The Patients Association has launched a new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for patient safety, chaired by Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns.
The new APPG will ensure that the government agenda continues to focus on patient safety by bringing together parliamentarians, members of the public and healthcare experts to address its issues in the care sector.
Patient safety issues on the group agenda include access to hospital information, infection prevention, antimicrobial resistance and hand hygiene, avoidable adverse patient events, medical errors, safety alerts and unsafe hospital discharge.
Jenkyns is a member of the Health Select Committee and a trustee for the MRSA Action UK charity through which she works with schools, medical trusts and the Department of Health.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, will act as the group’s secretariat.
She said: “Patient safety remains a priority for the Patients Association and we will continue our focus on keeping faith, high-quality effective care high on the NHS agenda as outlined by the Francis and Berwick Reports.
“The APPG will hear from patients, relatives, carers as well as professionals, providers and commissioners of care. The Patients Association are keen to ensure that patients have access to appropriate services, access to the right treatment using available technology and access to safe, quality and compassionate care.”
Other members of the group include Labour MPs Rosie Cooper and Virendra Sharma as well as the SNP’s health spokesperson in the Commons, Dr Philippa Whitford – all are vice-chairs.