TO BE PUBLISHED January 2026
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This conference focuses on next steps for patient safety in England. Areas for discussion include implementation of streamlined oversight, strengthened patient and staff voice, improved use of data, and workforce support and development for the delivery of safer care.
Policy developments & implications
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to consider the way forward following the Government’s acceptance of recommendations from Dr Penny Dash’s Review of patient safety across the health and care landscape.
Attendees will also examine the newly published NHS trust performance league tables, including how results are adjusted for fairness and transparency, and how findings will be used to scope and initiate targeted improvement support.
Key roles, oversight & responsiveness
Sessions assess how roles and responsibilities across oversight and investigative bodies can be streamlined and clarified, including the National Quality Board, the CQC and the HSSIB.
Implementation of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework will be discussed, alongside next steps for patient experience structures and service improvement, as well as advocacy processes following the expected integration of local Healthwatch functions within ICBs.
Quality strategy, addressing inequalities & implementing patient empowerment
Responsibilities of commissioners and providers will be assessed, alongside priorities for the development of a national quality strategy in adult social care.
Further sessions will look at oversight and complaints processes, including strategies for identifying and addressing inequalities in safety outcomes between groups, as well as priorities for public awareness around new advocacy options and initiatives.
Approaches to achieving consistent application of Martha’s Rule across settings will also be discussed - including priorities for staff support, supervision and organisational culture - as well as ways forward for improving quality in primary care, looking at practical steps for embedding Jess’s Rule in general practice.
Leadership & the workforce
Best practice for staff supervision and team working will be reviewed, as well as addressing the impact of workforce capacity pressures on safety and delivery.
We also expect discussion on workforce balance and what resources will be needed to maintain safety standards as more care is delivered in community settings.
Innovation & digital tools
Delegates will discuss the use of early‑warning systems and other digital tools, particularly with regard to maternity outcomes. The impact of electronic patient records on patient safety so far and key implementation considerations going forward will also be discussed.
Overview of areas for discussion
- Dash Review implementation and implications:
- governance structures - accountability - patient and staff voice - investigative functions
- data use and quality strategies across health and adult social care - alignment with priorities in the 10‑Year Health Plan
- key responsibilities:
- remit and priorities for the National Quality Board - the CQC’s sector‑specific registration and inspection responsibilities the investigative function of HSSIB as an independent body
- patient voice:
- how patient and family concerns can inform complaints and redress procedures - developing opportunities for patients and family members to share and escalate concerns
- simplifying access to advocacy processes for patients without undermining independence, trust and fairness
- complaints and oversight:
- incident response to varying safety outcomes, including in maternity and neonatal care - systems to enable timely second opinions, rapid reviews, and effective resolution of concerns
- workforce, teams and supervision:
- issues around training - expanding multidisciplinary roles - staffing levels, rostering, retention and wellbeing
- clarity on team responsibilities and escalation routes - deployment and management of physician associates and anaesthesia associates
- community care and knowledge sharing:
- mechanisms for sharing local learning and best practice across healthcare organisations to inform and support development of a clear national patient safety strategy
- digital tools:
- interoperability - data quality - clinical governance for use in practice - next steps for developing effective systems and safeguards, with the increased use of AI systems and devices
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
