At Whelan Law, we are committed to being at the forefront of developments in patient safety and medical accountability. Our work in personal injury, medical negligence and birth injury cases consistently highlights the critical need for safer, more reliable healthcare systems. It is with this commitment in mind that we look forward to the upcoming HEPS (Healthcare Ergonomics and Patient Safety) International Conference, taking place in Trinity College in June 2025.

This conference is a significant milestone event, bringing together leading experts, practitioners and innovators from around the globe. This year, the overarching theme of "Safer Better Healthcare by All and for All" resonates deeply with our firm's ethos and dedication to advocating for those impacted by medical error.

The HEPS conference programme offers a comprehensive look at the multifaceted aspects of enhancing patient safety:

Day 1: Innovating for Safer Better Healthcare

Discussions on the first day will focus on cutting-edge advancements and their potential impact on patient care, including:

• Benefits of online record for Patient Safety
• The impact of AI integration on Patient Safety
• Enhancing Patient Safety through improved adverse events reporting systems

These topics are of particular interest to us, as technology and data play an increasingly vital role in preventing medical errors and establishing accountability when things go wrong.

Day 2: Designing for Safer, Better Healthcare by All

The second day shifts focus to the human and systemic elements essential for improvement, covering:

• Enhancing Patient Safety and outcomes
• Delivering a National Patient Safety specialist training programme
• Engagement in Patient Safety improvement

Understanding how healthcare systems are designed and how professionals are trained is crucial for identifying root causes of negligence and advocating for necessary systemic changes that protect patients.

Day 3: Designing and Building Better Healthcare Outcomes for All, Healthcare for All

The final day reinforces the holistic approach to patient safety, with discussions including:

• Innovating for safer better healthcare
• Integrating human factors and ergonomics (HFE) in healthcare
• Poka Yoke for medication safety in the digital era

The integration of human factors and ergonomics, alongside practical error-proofing concepts like Poka Yoke, are vital in creating environments where medical errors are minimised and patient well-being is maximised.

At Whelan Law, our expertise in medical negligence means we frequently assess how innovations and best practices can and should translate into improved patient care. Our understanding of these advancements strengthens our ability to represent clients who have suffered harm due and to advocate not just for individual justice, but for systemic improvements that benefit all. This conference provides invaluable insights into the future of healthcare safety, ensuring we remain informed and effective advocates for our clients.

We are proud to champion the cause of patient safety, driving for a future where healthcare is indeed safer and better for everyone.