The Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge, has commemorated World Patient Safety Day with a call on healthcare professionals to strengthen patient-centred care and create safer and more responsive healthcare environments. This year's celebration, held on the theme: "Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases," brought together healthcare professionals, hospital management, stakeholders, and invited guests to reflect on patient safety and quality healthcare delivery. The event aimed to reduce preventable harm, particularly among people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Dr. Leslie Issah-Adams Zakariah, Medical Director of the Hospital, highlighted measures implemented by the facility to strengthen patient safety and improve the quality of care. These interventions include the enhancement of laboratory quality management systems, ensuring the availability of essential items required for caesarean sections to minimise delays and waiting times, and the expansion of the Client Relationship Unit. Dr. Zakariah urged staff to remain committed to making patient safety a priority at every patient encounter.
Nana Efua Kobi Prempeh, Advisor to the Member of Parliament for the Klottey Korle Constituency, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, expressed appreciation to healthcare workers for their dedication and selfless service. She encouraged healthcare professionals to continue creating an environment where patients felt safe, respected, and confident when seeking healthcare. Her sentiments echoed the importance of patient-centred care in healthcare settings.
Dr. Hillary Otchi Elom, a Quality Improvement Expert, emphasised that patient safety should be integrated into daily healthcare practice rather than treated as an annual observance. He identified medication errors, missed diagnostic results, delayed diagnoses, lost referrals, and inadequate communication as some safety risks confronting patients with NCDs. Dr. Elom called for inclusive and accessible healthcare for vulnerable patients, particularly persons with disabilities and people with other special needs.
Dr. Elom advocated a culture of reporting, learning, and continuous improvement instead of blaming whenever safety incidents occurred. He encouraged the Hospital to identify major safety risks and address them through measurable interventions, while strengthening medication reconciliation, diagnostic safety, follow-up of test results, and the involvement of patients and families in raising safety concerns. This approach aims to promote a safer healthcare environment.
Ms. Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Acting Chairperson of the Ghana Health Service Council, reaffirmed the Council's support for healthcare professionals. She encouraged continued efforts to strengthen training, improve health facilities, and establish systems that reduced risks and promoted patient safety. The Council's commitment to patient safety is unwavering.
The celebration ended with a renewed call on all staff to recognise patient safety as a shared responsibility and make it an integral part of their daily practice. Key stakeholders, including Dr. Ernest Konadu, Head of the Medical and Dental Unit at the Ministry of Health, and Nii Walakataka of Osu Djaase Asafoatse IV, commended the management and staff of the Ridge Hospital for their commitment to patient safety and quality healthcare.
Key points
- The Ridge Hospital has implemented measures to strengthen patient safety and improve the quality of care.
- Healthcare professionals are urged to prioritize patient-centred care and create safer and more responsive healthcare environments.
- Patient safety is a shared responsibility that requires the involvement of healthcare workers, patients, families, and the wider community.
