Championing concerns in perioperative care

Diane Gilmour (DG): The president of AfPP is elected by members and it is my role to represent members’ views in the perioperative arena. By maintaining a clinical role in perioperative practice I am better able to understand and acknowledge the challenges that members face on a daily basis. AfPP members have a critical role in shaping healthcare policy locally and nationally. Their input can, and does, drive the agenda and during my presidency I look not only to widen the areas on which AfPP has influence but also to deepen the level of that influence, so we make the most significant impact on perioperative care that we can. Alison Tait (AT): It is my job to ensure that every penny of our members’ money goes towards achieving the vision of AfPP. That vision is to improve patient care through constantly developing and promoting leading standards for perioperative practice and practitioners. It is a vast undertaking involving training, education and development. It includes research and publication of best practice and providing advice to practitioners on clinical issues. Our vision means we need to influence decision-makers at all levels. Achieving our vision – and every step along the way – means better care for patients.

What have been some of the key achievements of the organisation over the last 18 months?

DG: Our work surrounding the World Health Organization Safer Surgery Checklist showed that our expertise and input is valued at an international level. It is a tribute to the work of Jane Reid, my predecessor, and the professional team at AfPP that the Patient Safety First Campaign is collaboratively working with Trusts to implement the checklist. This will provide real safeguards to patients and provide a standard to which all practitioners can work. Outsourcing of decontamination services has been a contentious issue in the workplace and the quality of outsourced services has generated much debate. We have been at the forefront of the decontamination debate nationally. AfPP members have contributed directly to that debate helping to ensure that the issue of instrument cleanliness is right at the top of the agenda.