Using a campaign to promote safer medicines practice among healthcare professionals

The Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust has a work plan to improve the safe administration of medicines throughout the hospital. This includes measures to raise nurses' awareness of the risks associated with the administration of medicines, and initiatives to improve safety. Last year, two focus groups were held with qualified nurses from across the hospital to find out how they felt that practice could be made safer and more effective for patients. The nurses suggested that an educational campaign be organised to highlight best practice and to encourage nurses to think differently about medicines administration. This paper summarises the content and outcome of the campaign.