This year the World Health Organizatiom (WHO) declared September 17, 2019 as the first World Patient Safety Day as it deems it a global health priority. In line with that, the Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care Group followed suit and became the first hospital in Malaysia to lead the way with a patient safety framework for safeguarding patients.

They launched their Speak Up for Patient Safety(SUFPS) programme across all its portfolio of healthcare assets in Malaysia which includes Subang Jaya Medical Centre, ParkCity Medical Centre, Ara Damansara Medical Centre and Ramsay Sime Darby Healthcare College to strengthen its reporting culture and help safeguard patients.

The Speak Up for Patient Safety(SUFPS) programme empowers and encourages employees to speak up in the moment they see any colleagues, including senior colleagues who they believe is exhibiting behaviour that may put a patient at risk and promotes professional accountability which includes a confidential reporting avenue about unsafe behaviour without fear of reprisal.

As such, on Monday, MAG speaks to Erin Lloyd, the Group Head of Nursing, Quality & Risk Management of Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care Group to find out more about their Speak Up For Patient Safety (SUFPS) programme.

Facts: According to WHO, globally, 134 million adverse events occur each year due to unsafe care in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries, contributing to 2.6 million deaths annually; 15%of hospital expenses can be attributed to treating patient safety failures in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries); 4 out of 10 patients are harmed in the primary and ambulatory settings; up to 80% of harm in these settings can be avoided. WHO further adds that investments in reducing patient harm can lead to significant financial savings, better patient outcomes and data suggests that it can reduce the burden of harm by 15%.