Tullamore Hospital highlights a special medication safety campaign to mark World Patient Safety Day
Staff at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT) have been raising awareness about medication safety to mark World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) which takes place on the 17th of September, 2023. The theme of this year’s WPSD is “Engaging patients for patient safety”.
This initiative being promoted by the hospital encourages patients in Offaly to play a more active role in their own care by asking their pharmacist, doctor or nurse if they have any questions about their medications.
The Know, Check, Ask medication safety campaign encourages patients to download a My Medicines list. This form can then be filled out so that patients have their personal medicine list to hand, to aid in communication at hospital appointments and admissions.
Amy Mathews Patient Advocacy Liaison, Quality Risk and Patient Safety Department said, “We arebuilding on the launch of the initiative in September 2022, the hospital is now proactively using all points of contact with patients such as leaflets alongside outpatient appointment letters, and communications throughout the hospital.
The overall aim of the initiative is to help “Elevate the voice of patients!”, to encourage and empower them, their caregivers and healthcare professionals to take an active role in ensuring safer medicine practices and medication use processes including prescription, preparation, dispensing, administration and monitoring.”
Tina Connaughton, Quality Risk and Patient Safety Department states that “the evidence shows that when patients are treated as partners in their care, significant gains are made in safety, patient satisfaction and health outcomes. By becoming active participants in their own healthcare, patients can contribute to the safety of their care”
Catriona McDonald General Manager at MRHT says, “Medication safety is one of the priority programmes within Tullamore Hospital and demonstrates our commitment to implementing best practices and quality improvement initiatives that provide for a supportive environment for safe, high-quality care. This joint initiative has come about through collaboration between our MRHT Quality Risk and Patient Safety team, Pharmacy Department, Patient Service and the Emergency and Outpatients Departments. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our colleagues to ensuring its success.”
For more information please see www.safermeds.ie
Picture Caption:
Left to Right: Dr John Doherty Gerontology, Ciarán Muldowney,Chief II Pharmacist, Medication Safety, Emma Fogarty Clinical Nurse Manager 3 Emergency Department, Catriona Mc Donald General Manager, Amy Mathews Patient Advocacy Liaison Officer, Tina Connaughton, Quality Risk and Patient Safety Department, Agnes Gowing, Clinical Nurse Manager 2 Outpatients Department, Clare Conway Quality Risk and Patient Safety Manager.
