There is no doubt that covid-19 has had a lasting impact on the cultural dynamic of NHS institutions, and this culture can make an enormous difference to the safety of their patients. It can impact on:
- How seriously senior managers and the organisation consider patient safety
- How willing staff are to admit errors and critical incidents and therefore allow learning from them
- How willing staff are to challenge their colleagues (including those at more senior levels) over poor practice
Cultural change must be considered an institutional endeavour and therefore must include everyone from the board to frontline and support service staff.
This category recognises organisations where cultural change has driven clear acceptance and belief that patient safety is the responsibility of all staff. Judges are looking for organisations implementing a supportive culture where errors can be voiced, and staff feel free to speak up and raise concerns without fear.
Eligibility
Entries are open to all NHS and public sector organisations where cultural change has had a significant effect on safety.