Probably the single most important thing is willingness to take safety seriously and learn more about it. A look at the ‘Health Professionals’ section of the NPSA’s website, or browsing through one of the other resources we recommend below, will help. A chat with your hospital’s Clinical Risk Manager might also be beneficial – he or she might know of training courses but will certainly be pleased that staff are taking an interest. Your professional organisation is likely to have produced a statement about their role in promoting safety, patients and carers might like to look at.

In October 2004, WHO launched the World Alliance for Patient Safety in response to a World Health Assembly Resolution (2002) urging WHO and Member States to pay the closest possible attention to the problem of patient safety. The Alliance raises awareness and political commitment to improve the safety of care and facilitates the development of patient safety policy and practice in all WHO Member States. Each year, the Alliance delivers a number of programmes covering systemic and technical aspects to improve patient safety around the world. More details can be found here.