Before you begin, have you completed the first four modules in this series about patient safety?
Part one: The importance of a safety culture
Part two: Investigating incidents and causes
Part three: Getting to grips with safety culture
Part four: Reporting and analysis

The original CPPE programme was developed in collaboration with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre (GM PSTRC). The NIHR GM PSTRC is a partnership between The University of Manchester and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.

Disclaimer: This learning programme is intended to aid the assessment of different aspects of patient safety with a view to making improvements. Using it will not, on its own, ensure you are compliant with health and safety legislation. Organisations should evaluate their own level of compliance with the law and seek competent advice if appropriate.

Involving patients and their families and carers in all aspects of their care can help prevent safety incidents from occurring. 

Patients and their carers often have the greatest insight into what happens in their care and why. Without the patient perspective, there is a major ‘blind spot’ in the view of the healthcare system. This makes patients and the public vital partners in patient safety. They have experience and knowledge of their care, and their involvement can identify aspects that may be invisible to healthcare professionals.