The Scottish Patient Safety Research Network was established in 2007 to enhance capacity in patient safety research in Scotland.

The Network involves multidisciplinary research teams from the three universities studying adverse events in the Scottish healthcare system and examining both organisational and professional methods of improving safety for patients. The Scottish Funding Council awarded £1.5 million to this four year project and the three universities are also contributing £1 million to the initiative.

The first phase of the collaboration is focusing on three main areas that relate to the Chief Medical Officer’s three priority issues for patient safety in Scotland – monitoring, systems and education. The studies involve patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other Allied Health Professionals, NHS managers and staff. Specific aims include:

• Determining the nature and prevalence of adverse events to patients in Scotland in both primary and secondary care.
• Developing an automated reporting system for analysis of clusters and time trends relating to adverse incidents.
• Investigating the organisational culture underpinning safe/unsafe health care environments, especially the role of governance and management.
• Examining safety management strategies used in high risk industries in Scotland (eg, oil and gas production, nuclear power) for possible application in health care.
• Developing and evaluating innovative training for improving patient safety.