Background
The strategy was developed over two years and involved input from a wide range of people including service users, carers, front-line HSC staff, commissioners, departmental policy officials and professionals & Trade Unions. It has also been the subject of public consultation and was formally launched in November 2011.
Its purpose is to create a strategic framework and plan of action that will protect and improve quality and therefore Patient safety across all 3 dimensions within health and social care over the next 10 years. It recognises that this will be a period of major challenges, including financial constraints, as well as opportunities and demands from various quarters. It is planned that it will be subject to review every 3 years to ensure that it remains fit for purpose.