ABSTRACT
Hospitals are dangerous places. Each year more people die from medical errors than motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer or AIDS. It has been estimated that even across Europe one in every ten hospital patients experience a preventable harm or adverse event. Economic constraints have required health care systems to deal with ever larger numbers of patients with pressurised resources. The Francis Report emphasises the importance of training: improved support for compassionate caring and committed nursing: proper standards of nursing care lie at the heart of what is required to protect patients when in hospital. The primary direct legal interventions in the area of patient safety are through criminal law sanctions and order for payments under tort law. Promoting safety requires organisations to learn lessons from errors. The General Medical Council provides guidance which promotes patient safety. Standards are seen to be at the heart of patient safety.
