Support for surgical safety checklist

The launch of the new safety checklist for surgical teams, has been given the backing of the Association for Perioperative Practice. Jane Reid, president of the Association for Perioperative Practice, commented: “We want to make surgical safety everyone’s highest priority and this checklist includes practical suggestions to achieve just that. Our membership represents all those working in operating theatres and so we particularly welcome the emphasis on encouraging a culture of safety embracing the whole surgical team.”

Lord Darzi, who was involved in the development of the WHO checklist and also led the UK pilot for the WHO initiative at St Mary’s Hospital, part of the newly formed Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “I feel confident that the introduction of the surgical safety checklist will improve the safety of patients who undergo surgery in the UK. Our pilot study in the UK and the seven other pilot sites worldwide indicate that the checklist will improve standards of care. We now need to ensure that surgical teams are supported fully with the implementation of the checklist and all surgical staff understand the importance of the initiative.”