It’s great to see patient safety getting such a prominent focus on bmj.com this Christmas with support for the charity Lifebox. Lifebox’s first aim is trying to ensure a pulse oximeter gets into every operating theatre across the world. I hope we’ll all manage to give generously http://www.bmj.com/multimedia/video/2011/12/02/lifebox-appeal-atul-gawande

The desire for safer surgery has gathered momentum in recent years, especially with the interest shown by the World Health Organization’s Patient Safety Programme. I had the privilege in mid-2006 when working with WHO of meeting with Atul Gawande’s two wingmen in a quiet corner of L-Building at WHO headquarters in Geneva. They outlined an impressive vision for a surgical checklist and within months international consensus building was underway. I always thought this drive for patient safety in surgery would go a long way, but never quite imagined just how far in only five years. Once the American drama Emergency Room had featured it in one of their episodes success seemed certain.  more…