World Patient Safety Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of patient safety, highlight challenges and risks within healthcare, and showcase the role of research in improving the quality and safety of care. The annual campaign brings together patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, organisations and communities to promote safer healthcare and support better outcomes for everyone.
Patient safety is central to high-quality healthcare, from preventing avoidable harm and improving diagnosis and treatment to supporting effective communication and involving patients in decisions about their care. Research plays a vital role in understanding where improvements are needed and developing evidence-based approaches that make healthcare safer. Primary care is particularly important, providing care to millions of people and helping to identify and address patient safety risks across prevention, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support.
SPCR Research
- NEWS: New Ankle Blood Pressure Tool Offers Hope for Thousands with Arm Measurement Barriers A SPCR study unveiled a more accurate way to measure blood pressure at the ankle, offering a vital breakthrough for people unable to have readings taken from their arms.
- RESEARCH: Decluttering primary care in England to improve patient safety (SPCR Project no. 775). This project focuses on identifying and reducing “low-value care” in general practice, that is, treatments, tests, or prescriptions that are unlikely to benefit patients and may even cause harm or waste NHS resources.
- RESEARCH: Social and Ethical Aspects of Remote and Hybrid Care in the Special Allocation Scheme in general practice (SEARCH): A mixed methods study (SPCR Project no. 717). This research aims to understand how care is provided to patients who have been excluded from their GP practice and their experiences of this care, with a focus on remote and in-person appointment options.
- IMPACT: Enhancing public and patient involvement in research. The SPCR’s funding has helped researchers at Keele University to develop their PPIE programme, enhancing its diversity and the impact of their research.
Through continued collaboration with patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and community organisations, the SPCR remains committed to improving patient safety, reducing avoidable harm and health inequalities, and ensuring that research addresses the priorities and needs of patients and communities across the UK.
