New fraternity launched for safer healthcare everywhere
Brussels, October 15, 2014: The Irish Patients Association today launched the Pact for Patient Safety at the European Parliament with the participation of the European Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Ombudsman.
Supported by more than 20 patient associations throughout Europe, and representing hundreds of thousands of patients, the Pact for Patient Safety establishes 10 key commitments for health authorities such as involving patients in patient safety programmes, publicising data on parameters of patient safety, providing full access to patient records, incentivising safety with healthcare managers and raising awareness at national level on indicators of patient safety. Patients and citizens everywhere now have the opportunity to individually sign the Pact and demand greater safety of care through its dedicated
website.
Member of the European Parliament Séan Kelly (EPP, Ireland) remarked that, “the Pact is a resource for patients and citizens
throughout Europe and beyond to generate awareness of safety in healthcare institutions, as well as to support patients and
patient representatives to drive accountability with policymakers on the 10 commitments of the Pact.”
Stephen MacMahon, Director of the Irish Patients Association, and leader of the initiative, announced, “Given that 1 in 10
patients are currently harmed while receiving care, it is time that patients’ demand for safer care is heard and they can do that by signing the Pact for Patient Safety. The Pact creates an opportunity for greater accountability, access, and patient safety in
healthcare systems.”
The Pact for Patient Safety marks the beginning of a new movement by patients, and for patients, to facilitate commitment
from health authorities and policymakers, healthcare professionals and healthcare providers, towards better protecting
patients from unnecessary harm.
For more information and to sign the Pact, please visit the website at: www.pact4safety.com.
For further inquiries:
Stephen MacMahon
Irish Patients Association
+353 876 594 183
info@irishpatients.ie
Date of issue: 2014-10-15