Voices for Safety | Improving Patient Safety, Reducing Health Inequalities

Ep 7 - Unequal cancer care for people with a learning disability in the UK

As we mark Learning Disability Week, this episode of Voices for Safety explores a critical patient safety issue: the inequalities people with a learning disability face when accessing cancer care. Host Dr Louise Gorman speaks with Dr Oliver Kennedy, an NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the University of Manchester and a Medical Oncologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, whose research uncovers stark inequalities across the cancer care pathway in the UK. Drawing on a large-scale NIHR-funded study of over 180,000 people with learning disabilities, Dr Kennedy explains how they are less likely to be referred for specialist tests, more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, and around half as likely to receive treatment, resulting in much shorter survival times. Together, they explore why these gaps exist – from communication challenges and diagnostic overshadowing to systemic barriers in screening and treatment – and discuss what needs to change across prevention, diagnosis, and care to create a more equitable system. Released during Learning Disability Week 2026, this episode highlights the urgent need for more inclusive, accessible healthcare systems and the importance of ensuring everyone can receive timely, effective, and safe cancer care. Click for show notes, transcripts & more [https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news/podcast/] #NIHR #Patientsafety #Cancercare #Learningdisability #HealthInequalities

Ep 6 - Lost in Transition: How Care Gaps Impact Patient Safety | Voices for Safety Podcast

Transitions in care are high-risk moments for patient safety; whether from hospital to home, mental health settings to community, or across specialties. In this episode, our research experts Dr Natasha Tyler, Dr Richard Keers, and Professor Tom Blakeman dive into why transitions in care can present patient safety challenges and the emotional toll on patients and carers. From medication errors to emotional readiness for discharge, we explore research insights that could reshape the future of safer care transitions. 🔗 Show notes, transcript & more [https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news/podcast/] #PatientSafety [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/patientsafety] #NHS [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nhs] #TransitionsInCare [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/transitionsincare] #Healthcare [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/healthcare] #HealthcareWorkforce [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/healthcareworkforce] #MedicalStaff [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/medicalstaff] #NIHR [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nihr] #VoicesForSafety [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/voicesforsafety] #nhsengland [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nhsengland] #universityofmanchester [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/universityofmanchester]

Ep 5 - World Patient Safety Day Special | The Hidden Role of Parents in Paediatric Medication Safety

To mark World Patient Safety Day 2025, this special episode of Voices for Safety explores the critical but often overlooked role of parents in paediatric medication safety. Drawing on NIHR-funded research and lived experience, the conversation highlights how parents are routinely involved in administering medicines, the risks posed by hospital routines that ignore family expertise, and the emotional impact of medication errors. It calls for greater inclusion of parents in care decisions, improved communication, and systemic changes to ensure safer care for children. Our host Dr Louise Gorman is joined by: * Dr Adam Sutherland, Associate Professor in Healthcare Quality and Safety, University of Bradford, and a registered pharmacist who has worked in paediatric critical care since 2005, and * Heidi Ridgewell, a mum, advocate, and family support worker at Ryedale Special Families. This study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Education England Integrated Clinical Academic Programme (CDRF-17-024), and supported by the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Ep 4 - World Patient Safety Day Special | Patient Safety from the Start: Caring for Pre-Term Babies

To mark World Patient Safety Day 2025, this special episode of Voices for Safety explores the how NIHR-funded research is helping improve care for pre-term babies through the PremPath study. The conversation highlights the optimisation pathway, ethnographic insights into neonatal care, and the challenges of coordination, communication, and equity. It also shares practical recommendations to improve care experiences for families and staff, emphasising the emotional and relational aspects of patient safety. Our host Dr Louise Gorman is joined by: * Prof Nicola Mackintosh, Professor in Social Science applied to Health at the University of Leicester and research co-lead at the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC), and * Dr Julie Roberts – Research Fellow at the SAPPHIRE group (Social science, APPlied Healthcare and Improvement Research), University of Leicester. This study/project is funded by the NIHR Policy Research Programme (NIHR204242). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Ep3 - Locum Doctors, NHS System and Patient Safety | Voices for Safety Podcast

What is it really like to work as a locum doctor in the NHS? In this episode of Voices for Safety, we explore the challenges, opportunities, and patient safety implications of locum working with researchers Dr Jane Ferguson and Prof Kieran Walshe. From professional isolation to clinical governance, induction, and integration—this episode dives into the realities facing temporary medical staff and the organizations that rely on them. Brought to you by the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC). 🔗 Show notes & more: https://www.psrc-gm.nihr.ac.uk/news/podcast/ #PatientSafety #NHS #LocumDoctors #HealthcareWorkforce #MedicalStaff #PSRC #VoicesForSafety