The Patient Safety Commissioner Impact Paper
Topic : Transformation Type : Briefing
Over the past three years, the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC) for England, Professor Henrietta Hughes, has led a programme of work as to how the healthcare system listens to, and acts upon, the voices of patients and families. Her work has driven improvements in safety, championed restorative practices in complaints and clinical negligence, and embedded patient partnership at the heart of healthcare policy and delivery.
Key achievements include the development and widespread adoption of the Patient Safety Principles, which are now integrated into strategies across regulators, providers, and industry bodies. The PSC has influenced national policy through contributions to major inquiries and reviews, including the Infected Blood Inquiry and the Hughes Report, which outlines a blueprint for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. Initiatives such as Martha’s Rule, now active in all acute NHS trusts, have demonstrated the life-saving potential of empowering patients and families to escalate concerns.
The PSC has also advanced medicines safety through collaborative work with the MHRA, leading to changes in NICE guidance and clinical practice for high-risk drugs like valproate, fluoroquinolones, and isotretinoin. Her leadership has extended internationally, shaping global patient safety standards and inspiring similar roles abroad.
In this update report, the PSC calls for continued integration of patient voice in digital transformation, prevention strategies, and AI deployment in healthcare. Her vision is clear: a system where safety is designed in from the start, patients are true partners, and harm is actively prevented through listening, leadership, and collaboration.