Yesterday evening, key landmarks and hospital sites across Cardiff and the Vale were illuminated in orange to celebrate World Patient Safety Day, standing as a reminder to the public of their role in keeping people safe.
By following coronavirus guidance – maintaining physical distancing and practicing good hygiene measures, the public have a vital role to play in protecting healthcare workers that will in turn protect vital services.
The global pandemic has presented health services with major challenges and put healthcare workers at significant risk. The pace of change has been fast and services have had to adapt to maintain care provisions.
Ruth Walker, Executive Nurse Director at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “We are tremendously proud of the continued dedication, perseverance and hard work displayed by healthcare workers, local authorities and third sector partners – enabling us to continue to increase access to high quality patient care. We have a proud record and put safety and quality of the centre of everything we do. World Patient Safety Day serves as a reminder that this is not a time to be complacent; we need to continue to protect healthcare workers who are absolutely critical to the running of our services. A notable rise in COVID-19 hospital admissions would put our services at substantial risk.”
The aim of World Patient Safety Day is to increase staff and public awareness of measures that can be, and are being taken in the interest of staff and patient safety. It is widely acknowledged that the safety and wellbeing of healthcare workers has a direct impact on the safety and care of patients. This year, during the coronavirus pandemic, this message is more relevant than ever.
Fiona Kinghorn, Executive Director of Public Health at Cardiff and Vale Health Board said: “The safety of our communities in Cardiff and the Vale relies heavily on the sensible actions of us all to ensure that new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) are prevented and contained as far as possible.
“Staying 2 metres apart from others, taking a sensible approach to social interaction and regularly washing hands with soap and water, are small but critical actions we can all adopt in our fight against COVID-19. In doing so, we can help keep ourselves, our families and our healthcare community resilient.”
In order to protect healthcare workers and healthcare services, Public Health Wales are asking the public to follow the simple guidance below:
- Wash hands regularly
- Keep a 2 metre distance from others wherever possible
- Where a face covering where required
At dusk, sites including City Hall and St David’s Hall in Cardiff, the tunnel between Broad St and Hood Rd in Barry, and the Memo Arts Centre in Barry, were illuminated in orange for World Patient Safety Day. Areas of University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital of Llandough were also illuminated, standing as a reminder to the public that we all have an important role to play in protecting vital health services.
