Implementation of "local safety standards for invasive procedures (LocSSIPs)" policy: not merely a tick-box exercise...

The importance of patient safety in medicine and dentistry cannot be understated. Wrong tooth extractions account for approximately 25% of wrong-site surgery, and the implications for the patient, the team, and the institution can be profound. The development of national safety standards for invasive procedures (NatSSIPs) has led to the introduction of specialty-specific local safety standards for invasive procedures (LocSSIPs), with the aim of improving safety further. The implementation of outpatient LocSSIPs is recommended in clinical dentistry when surgical interventions regularly take place. We have implemented an outpatient LocSSIPs checklist for all procedures done under local anaesthesia in the oral and maxillofacial surgical unit of a large district general hospital. Feedback from a staff survey six months after its introduction was positive from both clinicians and nursing staff. Since its implementation 18 months ago no serious incidents have been reported and staff think that safety has improved. The reporting of incidents, for example, missing clinical notes and faulty equipment, has become more common (showing better awareness) and the development of a team-led approach has improved the running of the department.