Clinical governance, risk and human factors

Clinical governance has been linked to quality of care since its introduction during the 90s. This was necessary to improve the national approach to quality of care. There have been cited case when patients were unfortunately harmed or when there were near misses. Risk assessment is one of the seven pillars of clinical governance with a focus on minimising potential harm to patients. Quality of care as framed in clinical governance is key to patient safety. This chapter aims to establish the link between quality or standard of care and patient safety, given the framework for healthcare delivery. The issue of human factors and how they are managed is relevant and may determine the outcomes of care delivery and safety. Strategies related to quality of care should be implemented so that patients are less likely to be harmed. The legal framework on Health and Safety Legislation informs clinical governance. Healthcare staff owes a duty of care to patients as derived from Bioethics and Tort law of negligence or Delict (Scotland), within the national policy framework. This is the foundation of healthcare professional codes of conduct.