What Do We Need To Do To Keep People Safer?

Abstract

This paper explores what it might take to narrow the implementation gap between the evidence base and advice about what keeps people safe and the actual practice close to the patient and client. We describe what we have learnt about facilitating conversations with clinicians about times when their practice ‘fell short’ and how attention to the framing assumptions embedded in these stories can tell us more about what it takes to keep people safer.

Keywords:

• safety
• double loop
• triple loop learning
• local system

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Naylor

David Naylor is a senior consultant in Leadership Development, The Kings Fund and anadvisor to the Sign up to Safety campaign. His research interests include what enables people to speak up and question poor practice. [email: [email protected]]

Suzette Woodward

Suzette Woodward is the director of the Sign up to Safety Campaign. Her researchinterests include implementation science and patient safety. [email: [email protected]]

Sarah Garrett

Sarah Garrett is an independent consultant in innovation and improvement and an advisor to the Sign up to Safety campaign. Her research interests include the links betweenpatient safety, patient experience and organisational change.

Philip Boxer

Philip Boxer is an independent consultant supporting the development of clients’ capabilities for competing in highly networked environments. Research interests include organizational agility and learning across network organizations.