Patient Safety Information

Speaking up charter

The 'speaking up' charter, launched on 15 October 2012 outlines a commitment by those signed up to working effectively together to start to affect a difference in culture in the NHS. As a member of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges; this College supports the 'speaking up' charter.

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Transfer of Patient Safety Function to the NHS Commissioning Board

On 1 June 2012 the key functions and expertise for patient safety transfer to the NHS Commissioning Board Authority (NHS CBA) from the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA).

The NHS CBA will use the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS), the world’s most comprehensive database of patient safety information, to identify and tackle important patient safety issues at their root cause.

Healthcare organisations should continue to report patient safety incidents to the NRLS.

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Healthcare quality and safety and clinical governance are interlinked. Standards of practice for ophthalmic care are available in guidelines from the College and the National Institute for Health Clinical Excellence (NICE) and others and in position papers from the College’s Professional Standards Committee. The maintenance of such standards in ophthalmology at organisational level is achieved through adequate staffing levels, proper facilities and appropriate managerial support. Strict attention to detail and careful consideration of the patient pathway is needed to maintain and to enhance ophthalmic patient care and service delivery.

The Professional Standards Committee or its Quality and Safety Group regularly issues clinical statements or advice for ophthalmologists and related professionals to help enhance patient safety or share information.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published (June 2012) guidance for health professionals and commissioners to help improve transfer of information about patients' medicines when they move from one care setting to another. The document 'Keeping patients safe when they transfer between care providers - getting the medicine right' is endorsed by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. The report outlines the learning from the project and makes recommendations which can be applied across the NHS. The guidance is included in appendix 2 of the report.

Clinical Statement / Advice	Related Document(s) or Links
Advice on generic latanoprost prescribing The patent for Xalatan® expired on 17 January 2012. The MHRA has granted Pfizer and nineteen other companies licences for generic latanoprost production. At least nine of these companies, including Pfizer, are now distributing generic latanoprost eye drops in the UK.	Advice on generic latanoprost prescribing
Statement on Visual Screening in Children and Young People - May 2011 'The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) supports the evidence-based national programme aimed at detecting vision defects in children through clinical examinations by appropriately trained staff (http://www.screening.nhs.uk/vision-child)....'	Full statement
College statement on preventing venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing ophthalmic procedures. May 2010
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists has been working with the National Patient Safety Agency to produce a safer surgery checklist for cataract surgery. It is a bespoke checklist for surgery in the NHS and is clinically led by the RCOphth. The Checklist was launched at the RCOphth Congress on 25 May 2010 in Liverpool. Local adaptation of this Checklist is also encouraged to ensure it is effectively integrated into clinical practice. Any adaptations should be undertaken in accordance with your local governance scrutiny process. The NPSA/RCOphth safer surgery checklist for cataract surgery is the WHO surgical checklist of the month, August 2010.	Cataract Surgery Checklist (PDF) Cataract Surgery Checklist (Word) NPSA/RCOphth Cataract Surgery Checklist available formatted, in various sizes & with supporting information on the NPSA website The Checklist is adapted from the NPSA WHO Surgical Safety Checklist to ensure it is relevant & applicable to cataract surgery & all key clinical risks in this environment are addressed. It should be used for all patients having cataract surgery. NPSA Press release
Reclassification of tamsulosin as a pharmacy medicine The medicines and Healthcare regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reclassified tamsulosin as a pharmacy drug rather than a prescription drug. The College has made know its concerns regarding cataract surgery and patients who have taken the drug. The effects of the drug can last a number of years and any history of taking the drug should be emphasised as part of the history taking process for cataract surgery. The topic will be added to the cataract surgery guidelines which are currently under review. It is also important that ophthalmologists continue to report occurrences of intra-operative floppy iris syndrome via the MHRA's yellow card system. Mr Richard Smith, Chairman of the Professional Standards Committee & Vice President, May 2010
Statement on Visual Screening in Children and Young People - October 2007	NHS Evidence - Screening
Povidone Iodine 5% - July 2007	Information on Povidone Iodine 5% by Lucy Titcomb, Head of Pharmacy at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (2007)