1. Patient Safety Collaborative: Case study 2
EFFECTIVENESS MATTERS
Disseminating the best evidence for patient safety improvement.
Key points at a glance
Having easy access to clear summaries on the evidence of effective interventions to address
patient safety is important for both organisational leaders and frontline clinical teams.
A partnership with the highly-respected Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University
of York has enabled the AHSN Improvement Academy to commission evidence summaries in
priority patient safety areas.
The Effectiveness Matters series is a successful format for busy clinicians and managers that is
underpinning the delivery of patient safety improvement work in Yorkshire and Humber.
Background Summary
The need for accessible and accurate summaries of evidence to inform patient safety strategies
was one of the early priorities identified by the Improvement Academy following consultation with
clinicians and managers.
Challenges identified and actions taken
Working in partnership with the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York we
have re-established the internationally acclaimed Effectiveness Matters journal, which provides
NHS decision-makers with clear summaries of the evidence of effectiveness of quality and safety
improvement interventions.
The first in the series, ‘Patient Safety: 10 Things the NHS Should Be Doing Already’, was published
in August 2013. This provided a summary of the latest systematic reviews identifying the top ten
most effective patient safety interventions. A series of Effectiveness Matters published in 2014 to
support the safety improvement work with our clinical improvement network and frontline teams.
Current titles include:
Preventing falls in hospital August 2014
Impact of early warning systems on patient outcomes September 2014
Preventing falls in the community October 2014
Preventing pressure ulcers – draft for consultation
Outcomes
The initial Effectiveness Matters summary on Patient Safety – the 10 things the NHS should
be doing already has provided the bedrock of our work undertaken with frontline teams, on
behalf of their executive teams.
The material in the Early Warning Systems Effectiveness Matters informed a roundtable
discussion involving 12 of the 13 acute Trusts in the region.

2. The evidence about preventing falls in different settings has been used by frontline teams
in planning their improvement interventions.
Plans for the future
Further Effectiveness Matters titles will be published in 2014 and 2015
Electronic copies will be available through the AHSN Improvement Academy website to
support national dissemination of the evidence to other Patient Safety Collaboratives.
Tips for adoption
Support teams to ‘go where the evidence leads’
Use the evidence summaries as one of the essential components in a comprehensive
approach to improving safety.
Contact for further information
John Wright, Clinical Director – AHSN Improvement Academy
E: john.wright@bthft.nhs.uk
T: 01274 363430
Alison Lovatt, Clinical Improvement Network Director
E: alison.lovatt@bthft.nhs.uk
T: 01274 383959