About Voices for Safety | Improving Patient Safety, Reducing Health Inequalities
Welcome to Voices for Safety, a patient safety podcast brought to you by the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration. Here, we delve into the latest issues and breakthroughs in patient safety research in England, UK. In each episode, we’ll explore key topics ranging from medication safety and safety culture, to designing safer health and care systems and preventing suicide and self-harm. Join us as we hear from the leading researchers driving these advancements and learn how their work is transforming patient care.
www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk
Publisher
NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC)
Ep 9 - World Patient Safety Day 2026: Safe care for non-communicable diseases
World Patient Safety Day 2026 focuses on safe care for non-communicable diseases, encouraging communities, health practitioners, organisational leaders and policymakers to work together to develop solutions that address patient safety challenges and reduce harm for people living with long-term conditions.
People living with non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and respiratory conditions, often require ongoing care across multiple settings over long periods of time and across the life course. This can create multiple points at which safety risks may arise, from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment, long-term management and self-care.
To mark World Patient Safety Day 2026, we interviewed Prof Alarcos Cieza, Head of Management of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) at the Department of NCDs and Mental Health at the World Health Organization (WHO), and Prof Maria Panagioti from The University of Manchester and NIHRPSRC: Greater Manchester.
The conversation explores a WHO-commissioned meta-analysis led by Prof Maria Panagioti, which brought together evidence from 63 studies involving around 2.5 million patients across 23 countries. The findings suggest that around one in six patients receiving care for non-communicable diseases experience preventable harm, with medication-related problems being the most common source of harm.
Show notes and transcript: https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news/podcast/
13 Jul 2026
Ep 8 - Patient safety behind bars: avoidable harm in English prisons
How safe is healthcare in prison and what happens when things go wrong?
In this episode of Voices for Safety, our host Dr Louise Gorman speaks with researchers Dr Joy McFadzean, Dr Jake Hard, and Dr Verity Wainwright about a major study examining avoidable healthcare-associated harm in English prisons. Drawing on the review of more than 15,000 prisoner health records, the team discusses how delays in treatment, communication challenges, prison transfers, staffing pressures, and gaps between healthcare and security systems can affect patient safety.
The conversation explores the complex healthcare needs of people in prison, the barriers they face in accessing care, and why prisoners may be significantly more likely to experience avoidable harm than people receiving healthcare in the community. The guests share real-world examples from the research, discuss the impact of these findings on health inequalities, and consider what changes are needed to improve safety and continuity of care both within prisons and during transitions between prison and community healthcare services.
This episode shines a light on an often-overlooked area of healthcare and highlights why improving patient safety in prisons is an important public health priority.
16 Jun 2026
Ep 7 - Unequal cancer care for people with a learning disability in the UK
As we mark Learning Disability Week, this episode of Voices for Safety explores a critical patient safety issue: the inequalities people with a learning disability face when accessing cancer care.
Host Dr Louise Gorman speaks with Dr Oliver Kennedy, an NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester and a Medical Oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, whose research uncovers stark inequalities across the cancer care pathway in the UK.
Drawing on a large-scale NIHR-funded study of over 180,000 people with learning disabilities, Dr Kennedy explains how they are less likely to be referred for specialist tests, more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, and around half as likely to receive treatment, resulting in much shorter survival times.
Together, they explore why these gaps exist – from communication challenges and diagnostic overshadowing to systemic barriers in screening and treatment – and discuss what needs to change across prevention, diagnosis, and care to create a more equitable system.
Released during Learning Disability Week 2026, this episode highlights the urgent need for more inclusive, accessible healthcare systems and the importance of ensuring everyone can receive timely, effective, and safe cancer care.
Click for show notes, transcripts & more (https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news/podcast/)
#NIHR #Patientsafety #Cancercare #Learningdisability #HealthInequalities
5 Dec 2025
Ep 6 - Lost in Transition: How Care Gaps Impact Patient Safety | Voices for Safety Podcast
Transitions in care are high-risk moments for patient safety; whether from hospital to home, mental health settings to community, or across specialties. In this episode, our research experts Dr Natasha Tyler, Dr Richard Keers, and Professor Tom Blakeman dive into why transitions in care can present patient safety challenges and the emotional toll on patients and carers. From medication errors to emotional readiness for discharge, we explore research insights that could reshape the future of safer care transitions.
🔗 Show notes, transcript & more (https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news/podcast/)
#PatientSafety (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/patientsafety) #NHS (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nhs) #TransitionsInCare (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/transitionsincare) #Healthcare (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/healthcare) #HealthcareWorkforce (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/healthcareworkforce) #MedicalStaff (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/medicalstaff) #NIHR (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nihr) #VoicesForSafety (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/voicesforsafety) #nhsengland (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nhsengland) #universityofmanchester (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/universityofmanchester)
16 Sept 2025
(1) World Patient Safety Day Special | The Hidden Role of Parents in Paediatric Medication Safety
To mark World Patient Safety Day 2025, this special episode of Voices for Safety explores the critical but often overlooked role of parents in paediatric medication safety. Drawing on NIHR-funded research and lived experience, the conversation highlights how parents are routinely involved in administering medicines, the risks posed by hospital routines that ignore family expertise, and the emotional impact of medication errors. It calls for greater inclusion of parents in care decisions, improved communication, and systemic changes to ensure safer care for children.
Our host Dr Louise Gorman is joined by:
Dr Adam Sutherland, Associate Professor in Healthcare Quality and Safety, University of Bradford, and a registered pharmacist who has worked in paediatric critical care since 2005, and
Heidi Ridgewell, a mum, advocate, and family support worker at Ryedale Special Families.
This study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Education England Integrated Clinical Academic Programme (CDRF-17-024), and supported by the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
16 Sept 2025
(2) World Patient Safety Day Special | Patient Safety from the Start: Caring for Pre-Term Babies
To mark World Patient Safety Day 2025, this special episode of Voices for Safety explores the how NIHR-funded research is helping improve care for pre-term babies through the PremPath study. The conversation highlights the optimisation pathway, ethnographic insights into neonatal care, and the challenges of coordination, communication, and equity. It also shares practical recommendations to improve care experiences for families and staff, emphasising the emotional and relational aspects of patient safety.
Our host Dr Louise Gorman is joined by:
Prof Nicola Mackintosh, Professor in Social Science applied to Health at the University of Leicester and research co-lead at the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC), and
Dr Julie Roberts – Research Fellow at the SAPPHIRE group (Social science, APPlied Healthcare and Improvement Research), University of Leicester.
This study/project is funded by the NIHR Policy Research Programme (NIHR204242). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
6 Aug 2025
Ep3 - Locum Doctors, NHS System and Patient Safety | Voices for Safety Podcast
What is it really like to work as a locum doctor in the NHS? In this episode of Voices for Safety, we explore the challenges, opportunities, and patient safety implications of locum working with researchers Dr Jane Ferguson and Prof Kieran Walshe. From professional isolation to clinical governance, induction, and integration—this episode dives into the realities facing temporary medical staff and the organizations that rely on them. Brought to you by the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC).
🔗 Show notes & more: https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news/podcast/
#PatientSafety #NHS #LocumDoctors #HealthcareWorkforce #MedicalStaff #PSRC #VoicesForSafety
24 Feb 2025
Ep2 - Enhancing Safety Culture in Healthcare
In this episode of Voices for Safety, Dr Louise Gorman dives deep into the crucial topic of safety culture in health and social care with two leading researchers from the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC), Professor Nicola Mackintosh and Dr Jennifer Creese. Together, they explore how organisational culture impacts patient safety and the importance of fostering a healthy, psychologically safe environment for healthcare staff. From useful resources to the barriers staff face in speaking up about safety concerns, they unpack the complexities of safety culture through research, real-world examples, and their unique approach to improving workplace environments.
The conversation leads to an exploration of how enhancing safety culture is essential to improving patient safety. By creating supportive environments that empower staff to speak up, healthcare organisations can better manage risks and provide safer, higher-quality care.
If you’re passionate about enhancing safety in healthcare or want to understand how positive cultures can be practically implemented, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn how values like transparency, respect, and empowerment can transform the safety culture in NHS and social care settings.
Don't miss this insightful conversation on creating safer workplaces for staff and patients alike.
Resources that you might want to explore more:
MOMENTS (https://moments-safety.com/)- a framework of resources to nurture safety culture development through everyday practices together
NHS Patient Safety Strategy (https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/the-nhs-patient-safety-strategy/)
NIHR Greater Manchester PSRC Enhancing Cultures of Safety research theme (https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/our-research/enhancing-cultures-of-safety/)
16 Sept 2024
Improving diagnosis for patient safety | World Patient Safety Day Special
In the debut episode of Voices for Safety, we delve into the crucial theme of improving diagnosis to enhance patient safety, particularly in primary care settings. Hosted by Louise Gorman, this episode not only kicks off the podcast but also marks World Patient Safety Day 2024, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about patient safety and drive action towards reducing harm in healthcare.
Our expert guests bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion. Early in the show, Professor Darren Ashcroft, Director of the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC) (https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/), and Neil Walbran, Chief Executive Officer of Healthwatch Manchester (https://www.healthwatchmanchester.co.uk/), explore what patient safety truly means and why it matters, highlighting the importance of patient advocacy and engagement in making healthcare safer.
Later, we’re also joined by three highly esteemed General Practitioners (GPs) and leading researches at GM PSRC: Professor Tony Avery, National Clinical Director for Prescribing and Professor of Primary Care at the University of Nottingham, whose research has identified diagnostic error as a leading cause of avoidable harm in primary care; Professor Tom Blakeman, a GP and Professor of Primary Care at the University of Manchester, who leads work around Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and safer healthcare systems at GM PSRC; and Professor Umesh Chauhan, a GP Partner and Professor of Primary Care at the University of Central Lancashire, with a focus on improving patient outcomes through community health.
In this episode, our experts explore the challenges and opportunities in improving diagnosis in primary care, and how to create safer healthcare systems—key priorities for this year’s World Patient Safety Day.
Visit our website (https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news-and-events/podcast/)
13 Sept 2024
Welcome to Voices for Safety
Welcome to Voices for Safety, a patient safety podcast brought to you by the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC). Here, we delve into the latest issues and breakthroughs in patient safety research in England, UK. In each episode, we’ll explore key topics ranging from medication safety and safety culture, to designing safer health and care systems and preventing suicide and self-harm. Join us as we hear from the leading researchers driving these advancements and learn how their work is transforming patient care.
www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk
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