Safety campaign calls on nurses

Nurses have been asked to sign up to a two-year campaign to improve patient safety.

The Patient Safety First campaign, launched at the NHS Confederation annual conference in Manchester last month was put together 'by the service, for the service, for the benefit of patients', its developers said.

Its initial focus is on five areas: reducing inpatient cardiac arrest and mortality by early detection of deterioration; care bundles in ICU; reducing harm from high-risk drugs; better care for adults having elective surgery; and trust cultures promoting patient safety.

Campaign director Stephen Ramsden, chief executive of Luton and Dunstable NHS Foundation Trust, said it was 'a unique opportunity to energise and involve staff, as well as board members, in the quality and safety agenda'.