Patient Safety in secondary care.

Abstract

Patient safety is a major challenge for the acute care sector. This chapter considers recent public policy initiatives designed to enhance safety such as the NRLS, PALS, clinical governance, and risk management strategies as a means of promoting early identification of problems and the rapid dissemination of information to avoid recurrence. Recent changes that affect the primary and secondary care interface are explored in the context of potential pinch points for patient safety such as communication, the need for robust and seamless care pathways, funding and the effects of competition and collaboration between the sectors.