Patient Safety Commissioner Henrietta Hughes joined the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group (CPPSG) in April to recognise 10 years of promoting patient safety.
Henrietta shares the Group’s passion for promoting and driving a culture of patient safety within community pharmacy. The meeting was an opportunity for Henrietta and CPPSG to discuss their aligned goals. This includes Henrietta’s seven patient safety principles:
- Creating a culture of safety
- Putting patients at the heart of everything
- Treating people equitably
- Identifying and act on inequalities
- Identifying and mitigate risks
- Being transparent and accountable
- Using data to drive improved care and outcomes
The CPPSG has created a risk assessment and guidance on Sodium Valproate to support community pharmacists in conversation with patients taking the medication. Henrietta thanked the community pharmacy sector for its efforts around Sodium Valproate safety and highlighted the important work the Group is doing.
Henrietta also offered insights into the role of the first ever Patient Safety Commissioner and shared her strategy which includes ensuring the patient voice is at the heart of the design and delivery of healthcare.
Henrietta set out the importance of leadership, listening and partnership. She concluded the session by saying “patient safety is a team sport”. It takes effort from all parts of the healthcare system and beyond, and the CPPSG is proud to be part of that team.
Henrietta said: “I was pleased to spend time with the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group and delighted that my Patient Safety Principles align with their aim to listen to patients to understand the barriers to patient safety and help keep patients safe.”
Jackie Giltrow, chair of the CPPSG, said: “I want to offer a thank you to Henrietta for joining us and sharing great insights into her role as the patient safety commissioner, and about her patient safety priorities and plans. It’s great to see the work we are doing has support from England’s highest safety officer and we are happy to support the recommendations in the ‘The Safety Gap’ report which highlighted the challenges experienced by patients with visual and/or hearing impairment or loss in relation to their safe and effective access to and use of medicines and medical devices.”
Following the discussion with Henrietta, the Group will be doing even more to listen to patients to understand the barriers to patient safety and help keep patients safe.
CPPSG looks forward to welcoming more guests to its future meetings. Later this year, the Group will be joined by Roz Gittins, Chief Pharmacy Officer and Deputy Registrar for the General Pharmaceutical Council.
For further information about the CPPSG or to discuss opportunities for sponsorship please contact: contact@pharmacysafety.org.
Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group 