A recent policy perspective from MedTech Europe, Greg Quinn, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at BD, argues that patient safety is too often addressed after harm occurs, rather than being designed into healthcare systems from the outset. The article makes the case for a systems-based approach – one that anticipates risk, supports learning from near-misses and embeds safety across processes, culture and technology.
This line of thinking has helped inform subsequent research led by ABHI, exploring how medical technologies and system design can better support safer care. The research reflects growing recognition that patient safety is shaped not only by clinical practice, but by how technologies are developed, implemented and used within complex healthcare environments.
For the Thames Valley, with its strong concentration of healthtech, life sciences and research capability, this perspective invites reflection on the relationship between innovation and safety. As care models evolve and technology plays an increasingly central role, designing systems that reduce risk over time- rather than responding to failure- remains a critical challenge for policymakers, providers and industry alike.
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