Press Release: Patient safety: progress made, more needed

A patient safety package published on the 19 June 2014 by the European Commission highlights how the Commission and EU countries are addressing the challenge of patient safety, progress made since 2012 and barriers to overcome to improve patient safety as foreseen in a Council Recommendation of 2009.

While significant progress was made in terms of shaping national programmes for patient safety and putting in place systems for patients to report adverse effects, there is a still a long way to go in terms of implementing provisions on patient empowerment and in particular on education and training of healthcare workers. The documents published on the 19 June 2014 will feed into the reflection process currently underway on future EU-level action on patient safety and quality of care.

European Commission: DG Health& Consumers: Public health: Patient safety: Policy http://ec.europa.eu/health/patient_safety/policy/index_en.htm

ESO: Background information: Council Recommendation of 9 June 2009 on patient safety, including the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-recommendation-of-9-june-2009-on-patient-safety-including-the-prevention-and-control-of-healthcare-associated-infections/

ESO: Background information: Report from the Commission to the Council - The Commission’s second report to the Council on the implementation of Council Recommendation 2009/C 151/01 on patient safety, including the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections http://www.europeansources.info/record/report-from-the-commission-to-the-council-the-commissions-second-report-to-the-council-on-the-implementation-of-council-recommendation-2009-c-151-01-on-patient-safety-including-the-preventi/

---