Post-surgical deaths fall by a third in Scotland

A study published in the British Journal of Surgery has found a 36.6 per cent reduction in mortality since the World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist was introduced in Scotland’s hospitals in 2008.

The 19-item checklist is part of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme and is designed to promote a culture of teamwork and communication in operating theatres.

The findings are based on an analysis of 6.8 million operations performed between 2000 and 2014, with rates falling to 0.46 deaths per 100 procedures over this period. The fall in death rates was seen only in patients who had surgery.

Scotland’s National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch said:  “This is a significant study which highlights the reduction in surgical mortality over the last decade. While there are a number of factors that have contributed to this, it is clear from the research that the introduction of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist in 2008 has played a key role.

“This decline in mortality has been achieved through the hard work of hundreds of people involved in the project across the NHS in Scotland, delivered under the Scottish Patient Safety Programme alongside a number of other surgical safety measures.

“Behind every one of these statistics is a life saved, demonstrating the impact that the Scottish Patient Safety Programme has had and continues to have on delivering safe, effective and person-centred healthcare for patients. I am delighted that this work, which has the support of Scotland’s Royal Colleges and surgical societies, has been recognised in this way.”