Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP)

Safety is at the heart of our work

The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) is a national quality improvement programme that aims to improve the safety and reliability of care and reduce harm.

Since the launch of SPSP in 2008, the programme has expanded to support improvements in safety across a wide range of care settings including Acute and Primary Care, Mental Health, Maternity, Neonatal, Paediatric services and medicines safety.

Underpinned by the robust application of quality improvement methodology SPSP has brought about significant change in outcomes for people across Scotland.

The SPSP has three core components, as follows:

Essentials of Safe Care

The Essentials of Safe Care is a practical package of evidence based guidance and support that enables Scotland’s health and social care system to deliver safe care for every person, within every setting, every time.

Find out more

SPSP programmes of work

Current safety improvement programmes include acute adult, primary care, maternity and children, medicines and mental health.

Find out more

Scottish Patient Safety Programme Learning System

We're developing a national Learning System to underpin the Essentials of Safe Care, to rapidly capture and share learning to support spread at pace and scale. Coming soon.

Find out more