UK and international evidence indicates that 1 in 10 patients experiences an adverse event in hospital.
Adverse events are defined as unintended consequences of care, and may include contracting an infection such as MRSA, experiencing a drug error or a post-surgical complication, or developing a pressure sore. Research shows that 50% of adverse events can be avoided if rigorous patient safety processes are routinely followed.
Quite apart from the personal impact on patients, adverse events are estimated to cost NHSScotland around £200m each year in extra treatment and lost bed days.
As the Scottish Patient Safety Programme develops, NHSScotland will be gathering data to monitor prevalence and impact. Meanwhile, here are some links to recent studies and reports that highlight aspects of the challenge, and describe some responses.