A patient safety survey is about to be launched in the Whanganui region involving about 600 patients in both hospital and fifteen local nursing and rest homes.

This is a first for the Whanganui District health Board, and the first time such a survey has been conducted simultaneously in both the hospital and the community in New Zealand.

The survey, run by the newly created Patient safety centre at Whanganui district health board, will gather information on the prevalence of pressure ulcers, incontinence rates, malnutrition, falls, and restraint practices.

General Manager Sandy Blake says the information will provide important information about the actual health status of Whanganui district health board patient, and residents of nursing and rest homes.

“It will give us an enormous amount of data that we can learn from, with the end result being improved patient care,” said Mrs Blake.

Consent will be sought from patients and/or family members for those who take part in the survey. Altogether 55 staff are involved in collecting data, including third year nursing students, staff from the prison, and other health groups within the community.