View from the top: the health secretary's views on patient safety

Myriad concepts and values underpin patient safety agendas nationally and globally and can be seen in government, regulatory and professional bodies' reports and publications. Putting the patient first, being open, honest, trustworthy, just, and professionally competent, are just some of the concepts seen.

In a speech on 6 February 2019, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, stated that we trust nurses and doctors more than any other profession (Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Hancock, 2019). He spoke about the importance of a ‘just culture’ in the NHS and openness, honesty and trustworthiness. He related these concepts to NHS patient safety and leadership in a wide-ranging presentation.

The speech addressed strengthening NHS leadership and the newly published Kark report on the Fit and Proper Person Test (Kark and Russell, 2019). Independent medical examiners were also discussed. Hancock also spoke about a number of patient safety crises: