Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 40
Patient Safety Commissioner's role impeded by lack of clear responsibilities and resources
Conclusion
Although the vision for what the role of Patient Safety Commissioner will achieve is publicised by the Department, no statement of specific assignments or areas of responsibility, have been published yet. As we set out in our report on the pre- appointment hearing with Dr Hughes, metrics for success and clearly defined responsibilities are needed. Only when these are clearly established can resources be adequately assigned. The risk if this is not done is that the maximum benefit to patient safety will not be fully realised. We therefore urge the Secretary of State to ensure that the Patient Safety Commissioner’s ability to carry out her important role, as her duties and responsibilities become more clearly defined, is not impeded by a lack of resource for and within her office.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the Patient Safety Commissioner's appointment and work, stating they are continuing to work with her on appropriate resource levels and will report back once discussions conclude. The Commissioner will publish her business plan after her website is complete.
Paragraph Reference:
40
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
. We are pleased to have appointed Dr Henrietta Hughes as England’s first ever Patient Safety Commissioner, and she began work in earnest in September 2022. The Commissioner has statutory powers to act as a champion for patients, alongside a core role of promoting the safety and views of patients and the public in relation to medicines and medical devices. The Commissioner published a 100 Days Report on 2 February that sets out progress to date including engagement with patient groups and health leaders to ensure issues of redress and safe medication are upmost in the minds of regulators and health leaders. The Patient Safety Commissioner also outlined her top three priorities of culture change, pelvic mesh complications and sodium valproate. The Department continues to work with Commissioner, including on appropriate levels of resource, now the shape of the work and the role is taking shape. We will report back to the Committee once these discussions have concluded. The Commissioner will publish her business plan in good time once the Patient Safety Commissioner website is complete and functional.