Last week, Hubert Consulting convened a European conference on clinical risk in Rome for AOGOI, the Italian Association of Hospital Gynaecologists and Obstetricians. It saw the launch of a new European network of OB/GYN with the aim to tackle deficiencies in clinical risk management.
As most of you will know, the EU has legislated on different aspects of patients safety, be it through the Patients Rights Directive, the 2009 Patient Safety Recommendation or to a certain extent, the Clinical Trials Directive. However, very little has been done to address issues relating to clinical risk management.
A look at the 2012 Commission report on patient safety shows that much more can and should be done in this area; An estimated 8 - 12% of patients admitted to hospital in the EU suffer from adverse events whilst receiving healthcare. Much of the harm to patients is preventable, but the implementation of strategies to reduce harm varies widely across the EU.
The compensation and redress measures available also vary widely and in some countries, health professionals are tried by criminal courts for minor harm. This is highly unsatisfactory for health professionals and for national health systems. It also has adverse effects on insurance providers which are increasingly, and throughout the EU, raising their premiums and/or refusing to insure entire professions.
Action at EU level?
By Treaty, the EU is expected to help its member countries coordinate their efforts to protect public health.
EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg, who was speaking at the event, highlighted the fact that 50% of EU citizen think there is a chance of them being hurt after hospital care. He also noted the significant differences in clinical risk management across the EU and reflected on what actions could be taken. The Commissioner invited participants to set up an informal network to start a dialogue with the European Commission on how these issues could be resolved. He suggested that EU action may be necessary and assured that DG Health and Consumers would collaborate with the network with a view to improve the current situation.
What's next?
AOGOI and 4 European counterparts have created the informal network. It will now be promoted to expand the group and will hold a network meeting in the fall. Contacts with the European Commission will be strengthened immediately so as to make the most of Commissioner Borg's invitation to work together (Commissioner Borg's tenure ends in November 2014 so it is important that work begins prior to his departure). In the future we will seek to associate ourselves with other health professions and patients organisations to create the critical mass necessary to effect change and to represent all stakeholders in this debate.
Hubert Consulting is excited to be leading on this project. Do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to be involved.