More than 17,000 lives could be saved every year if healthcare in Britain was as safe as other developed nations, a report suggests. Researchers at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London examined data on 38 countries from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Norway finished top of the league table for patient safety, followed by Sweden and South Korea, while the UK placed 21st and Mexico in last place. The experts focused on four key patient safety indicators for their rankings: maternal mortality, treatable mortality, adverse effects of medical treatment, and neonatal disorders.
The analysis suggests that 17,356 lives could have been saved in the UK in 2019 if it had performed at the level of the top 10 percent of countries. This would have meant 15,773 fewer deaths classified as treatable mortality, 776 fewer neonatal deaths, 27 fewer maternal deaths, and 780 fewer deaths due to adverse effects of medical treatment. Many others have survived poor care but suffered avoidable physical or mental disabilities, which are not captured by this report, the authors note.
The countries included in the report commissioned by the charity Patient Safety Watch are all members of the OECD. The researchers warn that without more global cooperation and increased reporting of data, efforts to improve patient safety will be delayed or insufficient, risking harm and lives. They considered 89 indicators for their report, including the four used to produce the league table, but no country was able to provide all of them. Australia, New Zealand, and Norway have the highest availability of patient safety data available, with 75, while the UK has 68.
To enhance patient safety, we must first recognize that progress is impossible without measurement. Our report underscores the urgent need to establish a robust global framework for collecting comprehensive patient safety data, addressing existing data gaps, and implementing meaningful indicators. Collaboration is the key to progress, and it is imperative that we work together to elevate patient safety. Patient safety should be evaluated through the lens of the patient, and we must wholeheartedly embrace interventions that incorporate the perspectives of patients, families, and caregivers, said Professor the Lord Ara Darzi, co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation.
James Titcombe, from Patient Safety Watch, highlighted the importance of monitoring and improving patient safety indicators and engaging patients in this effort. He shared that in 2020, 800 women died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth worldwide.
In response to the report, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care emphasized that patient safety is paramount and any death caused by failings in this area is unacceptable. They mentioned the steps taken by the UK to improve the safety of care, such as delivering the first NHS Patient Safety Strategy, appointing the first Patient Safety Commissioner, establishing the Health Services Safety Investigations Body, and announcing a review into the NHS duty of candor.
The report serves as a wake-up call for healthcare systems worldwide to prioritize patient safety. The findings indicate the urgent need for collaboration, data sharing, and the implementation of meaningful indicators to ensure timely and effective healthcare. With the potential to save thousands of lives each year, it is crucial that countries strive to improve their patient safety standards and learn from the best practices of others.
