ReSNET (Research into Safety in health and social care Network) is a new research group, led by Associate Professor in Patient Safety, Dr Sarahjane Jones, committed to improving safety in health and social care settings.
One in every ten patients is harmed when receiving hospital care and more than a million patients die annually from complications due to surgery, according to the World Health Organisation which recognises patient safety as a global health priority.
To mark World Patient Safety Day on 17 September, a virtual launch event will introduce ReSNET, its ambitions and key members including Professor Mark Radford, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer of NHS England and NHS Improvement.
Dr Jones explained: “The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that more needs to be done to protect both patients and healthcare workers in clinical settings like hospitals but also in social care settings such as care homes.
“We are extremely excited to be launching ReSNET which encompasses several research projects with NHS England, NHS Improvement and other partners to improve safety outcomes through robust, interdisciplinary research and evaluation.”
Professor Mark Radford, Chief Nurse, Health Education England, and Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England said: “I’m thrilled to join colleagues across academic research, clinicians and patients and service users to be a part of such a vital network as ReSNET. With rigorous, interdisciplinary research and evaluation we can make meaningful and important improvements to safety in health and care settings.”
Significant research projects currently underway are NuRS and AmReS, funded through a £460,000 grant from the Health Foundation, which explores nurse and ambulance workforce retention and their impact on patient safety.
ReSNET aims to drive forward Staffordshire University’s patient safety agenda which has seen the development of the first MSc in Human Factors for Patient Safety which launches at the University this month.
A new £5.8 million Health Innovation Centre at the University’s Stafford Centre of Excellence for Healthcare Education will also enable healthcare professionals and students to explore and develop new patient safety techniques using sector-leading clinical simulation and immersion suites.
To further support research in this area, the University is sponsoring three PhD places for staff members Emily Browne and Lizzie Crisp as well as Vanda Carter, Practice Education Facilitator for Research at Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust.
In July, Staffordshire University entered a new strategic partnership with The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) to forge closer working across workforce development, research and innovation and service transformation. The Trust will play a key role in ReSNET and Chief Nurse, Professor Ann-Marie Cannaby, will deliver a keynote speech at the launch next week.
Mike Phillips, Associate Dean in the School of Health and Social Care, commented: “We are passionate about creating safer communities and improving patient safety by working alongside our NHS partners and experts in the field. Patient safety is also at the forefront of our teaching and students form a significant part of the solution to the continuing challenge of providing high quality, safe patient care in a system, which faces unprecedented demand.
“The formation of ReSNET and our new Health Innovation Centre are hugely positive steps towards carrying out innovative research and providing cutting-edge digital skills for current and future workforces.”
The ReSNET launch takes place at 2pm on Thursday 17 September. Find more information and book a place here.