The patient safety collaborative programme: opportunities for physician engagement

Driving improvements in patient safety has been a core goal of the Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) in England since their inception in 2013. The National Patient Safety Collaborative Programme, nested within the 15 geographically located AHSNs, was established in 2014 in response to the Berwick review. In 2019, the new NHS national patient safety strategy was published, which placed the AHSNs as a key vehicle for delivering its ambitions. This paper explores the achievements of, and opportunities presented by, the collaborative in addressing some of the key patient safety challenges facing physicians and their wider teams. Case studies illustrate the AHSNs' contribution to support national ambitions, including the adoption of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2, and the impact of regionally-led work on patient outcomes, such as reducing mortality from sepsis and acute kidney injury. We set out current activities, opportunities for physician engagement and plans for future work.