Researchers from King's participate in 2nd Anglo-Japanese collaboration event in Tokyo for Improving Patient Safety

Researchers from King’s Patient Safety and Service Quality Research Centre (PSSQ) were invited to the second Anglo-Japanese collaboration for Improving Patient Safety (AnJIPS) event, which was held between 4th and 7th June in Tokyo. The AnJIPS project is a partnership between King’s College London and the University of Tokyo (UT). Led by Dr Naonori Kodate, former Research Associate with the Risk Programme (now Lecturer, University College Dublin), it is funded by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation.

The four-day event was hosted by Dr Kenji Harada (Department of Health Care Safety Management, UT) and his team, in the absence of Dr Kenichiro Taneda (The Japan National Institute of Public Health, now seconded to WHO Western Pacific Region, as Technical Officer for Patient Safety). The four delegates took part in various events such as a one-day research seminar, a meeting with the risk manager at the UT Hospital, a discussion with a group of harmed patients (who recently launched a non-profit organisation called ‘Kakehashi’ (bridge) with the aim of building partnerships between patients and medical professionals), and observations of two different types of simulation training (a classroom based ER training session using a mannequin for the final-year medical students at the UT Hospital, and a high-fidelity ward-based training module for newly qualified nursing staff at the Terumo Medical Pranex*, located 45 miles outside Tokyo).

During the seminar, the PSSQ delegates shared findings from research projects on risk management, simulation training and public and patient involvement. Other presenters from Japan included Dr Shin Ushiro (Director, Division of Adverse Event Prevention and the Japan Obstetric Compensation System for Cerebral Palsy, Japan Council for Quality Health Care), Professor Yasushi Kodama (Director, Department of Health Care Safety Management, UT), and Professor Kenichi Yoshida (Chair, Department of Forensic Medicine, UT). Common challenges in patient safety for both countries were highlighted, while differences in the legal system and the paces of policy making were also identified.

The event marked the end of the AnJIPS project, which started in October 2011. We would like to thank the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation and all those who helped with arrangements and participated in the series of events in the two countries.

*Terumo Medical Pranex is a purpose-built education and R&D facility, with two wings – one with laboratories, and the other with hospital studios for training and practice purposes. Each of the two wings has a total floor area of 7,000m2.