The key to safe surgical care is effective team work and communication in combination with the use of evidence-based interventions. The WHO checklist combines all of these.
The implementation of the WHO checklist has been reviewed by Patient Safety First with a survey to all trusts[4]. All those who responded were implementing the checklist and about 60% reported positive change as a result. Factors which were identified as leading to successful introduction were all related to engagement with staff; having a clinical champion, early adopter and clinician and nurse enthusiasm. Challenges included it being seen as a tick box exercise, and difficulties getting staff engagement when it is not seen as a priority or under time pressures.
Trusts can adopt the checklist and a version has also been created for maternity cases. We have included a standard copy of the checklist (Figure 26.1), to remind you of what it includes.
The NPSA WHO Surgical Safety Checklist. Available at: http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/?entryid45=59860. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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