Based in London, England, The Health Foundation is an independent charity that aims to improve health and the quality of health care for the people of the United Kingdom. The Foundation selected the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to design, promote and implement the Safer Patients Initiative, one of the Foundation’s quality and performance improvement programmes. IHI is continuing to support the Safer Patients Network.
In April 2004, The Health Foundation, together with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) launched the Safer Patients Initiative, and in November 2006 the Safer Patients Initiative Phase 2 launched, adding 20 more sites to the initiative. In June 2009, the Safer Patients Network launched with 18 out of the original 24 SPI-1 and SPI-2 sites joining as members of an ambitious network building on the safety expertise gained through their involvement in the Safer Patients Initiative. The sites will test, develop and export ways to make healthcare safer for patients and build improvement skills in their systems of care.
The aim of the network is to work together to develop the network as a self-sustaining, member-driven community of practice to catalyse improvements to patient safety.
The Safer Patients Network will:
- sustain and strengthen the impact of the Safer Patients Initiative
- create opportunities to test and develop new approaches to patient safety. Others within the network and the wider system can then take these forward
- build capability in the service by establishing accredited sites. These sites will then offer coaching, mentoring and support in improving patient safety to the wider health system.
The network will further the development of skills and knowledge to ensure safe and reliable care. It will also look to how the network can spread safety improvements across the national systems in the UK.
