Questioning patients recently in hospital on elements such as ward overcrowding, the standard of lighting, potential noise distraction to nursing or clinical staff, and whether flooring was safe, will form part of a six-year research project led by the Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR) and the University of York aimed at improving patient safety across the NHS.
The National Institute for Health Research-funded study, starting next month, will see over 1,000 patients admitted to hospitals in Yorkshire and north-eastern England quizzed by a 10-strong research team on their clinical care, their own “reaction” to the treatment environment, and estates issues such as the condition of flooring and lighting, to identify ways to improve patient safety. The “patient’s eye view” will build on the progress already made at the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital in Bradford, earlier this year named among the NHS’s 10 safest hospitals. According to the BIHR team, estimates suggest that, across NHS hospitals, incidents causing patients harm occur in one in 10 admissions, costing the NHS £2 billion annually. Profe research at the BIHR (the research arm of the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), said: “Initiatives to improve patient safety have so far focused on the ways healthcare is organised and delivered, and getting doctors and nurses to adopt safer working practices, with little patient involvement. Our study will make the best use of the patient experience to improve safety.” Also participating in the research will be the Universities of Leeds and Newcastle, and charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA). ssor John Wright, director of research at the BIHR (the research arm of the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), said: “Initiatives to improve patient safety have so far focused on the ways healthcare is organised and delivered, and getting doctors and nurses to adopt safer working practices, with little patient involvement. Our study will make the best use of the patient experience to improve safety.” Also participating in the research will be the Universities of Leeds and Newcastle, and charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA).
