In the debut episode of Voices for Safety, we delve into the crucial theme of improving diagnosis to enhance patient safety, particularly in primary care settings. Hosted by Louise Gorman, this episode not only kicks off the podcast but also marks World Patient Safety Day 2024, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about patient safety and drive action towards reducing harm in healthcare.
Our expert guests bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion. Early in the show, Professor Darren Ashcroft, Director of the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC), and Neil Walbran, Chief Executive Officer of Healthwatch Manchester, explore what patient safety truly means and why it matters, highlighting the importance of patient advocacy and engagement in making healthcare safer.
Later, we’re also joined by three highly esteemed General Practitioners (GPs) and leading researches at GM PSRC: Professor Tony Avery, National Clinical Director for Prescribing and Professor of Primary Care at the University of Nottingham, whose research has identified diagnostic error as a leading cause of avoidable harm in primary care; Professor Tom Blakeman, a GP and Professor of Primary Care at the University of Manchester, who leads work around Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and safer healthcare systems at GM PSRC; and Professor Umesh Chauhan, a GP Partner and Professor of Primary Care at the University of Central Lancashire, with a focus on improving patient outcomes through community health.
In this episode, our experts explore the challenges and opportunities in improving diagnosis in primary care, and how to create safer healthcare systems—key priorities for this year’s World Patient Safety Day.
