The report "Design for patient safety - a system-wide design-led approach to tackling patient safety in the NHS", jointly commissioned by the Department of Health and the Design Council, has been recognised by The Ergonomics Society with the award of their President's Medal.
This medal is to honour institutions or organisational groups whose work has made a significant contribution to original research, the development of methodology, or application of knowledge within the field of ergonomics.
Last year we published a news item about a study undertaken by research teams at the Engineering Design Centre (EDC), Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, the Robens Centre for Health Ergonomics at the University of Surrey, and the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre at the Royal College of Art, that led to the publication of a report which points the way to improving patient safety and will contribute significantly to improving the quality of care for NHS patients. The study identified how the effective use of design could help to reduce medical accidents.
The report is beautifully presented, with illustrations relating to the subject matter (as shown above), and is available from the Design Council or Department of Health.