Simple
Actions •
Safer
Care •
Stronger
Accountability 🛡️ *
WHY
DOES
IT
MATTER?*
Surgery
involves
multiple
healthcare
professionals,
complex
procedures
and
many
opportunities
for
communication
errors.
A
simple
checklist
can
help
prevent: 🚨
Wrong
patient 🚨
Wrong
procedure 🚨
Wrong
surgical
site 🚨
Retained
instruments
or
swabs 🚨
Medication
or
allergy-related
errors 🚨
Poor
communication
between
team
members
The
checklist
is
not
just
paperwork—
it
is
a
patient-safety
intervention. 🟢 1. *
SIGN
IN*
Before
induction
of
anaesthesia
The
team
confirms
essential
patient
and
procedure
information. 🔹 *
Patient
identity* —
confirm
using
appropriate
identifiers. 🔹 *
Procedure* —
verify
the
planned
operation. 🔹 *
Surgical
site* —
confirm
and
mark
where
appropriate. 🔹 *
Consent* —
ensure
appropriate
consent
has
been
obtained. 🔹 *
Allergies* —
check
and
communicate
any
known
allergies. 🔹 *
Airway/
aspiration
risk* —
assess
relevant
anaesthetic
risks. 🔹 *
Blood-loss
risk* —
anticipate
significant
blood
loss
where
applicable. 🔹 *
Anaesthesia
safety
checks* —
confirm
equipment
and
medication
readiness. « ```
Before
anaesthesia
starts,
make
sure
we
have
the
right
patient,
right
procedure
and
right
site``` .» *
Immediately
before
the
procedure
begins* 🚦 *
STOP!
Everyone
pauses.*
The
entire
operating
team
actively
participates.
The
team
confirms: 👤 *
Who
is
the
patient?* 🔪 *
What
procedure
are
we
performing?* 📍 *
What
is
the
correct
site/
side?* 💉 *
Are
there
any
important
allergies
or
special
risks?* 🩸 *
Is
significant
blood
loss
expected?* 🦠 *
Has
antibiotic
prophylaxis
been
given
when
indicated?* 🧰 *
Are
the
required
instruments,
implants
and
equipment
available?* 🖥️ *
Are
imaging
or
other
critical
investigations
available
when
needed?*
Everyone
should *
STOP
and
SPEAK
UP*.
If
something
does
not
look
right, *
the
procedure
should
not
proceed
until
the
concern
is
resolved.* *
Before
the
patient
leaves
the
operating
room*
The
team
confirms
that
the
procedure
has
been
completed
safely
and
that
important
information
is
communicated. 📌
Confirm
the *
procedure
performed* . 🧮
Confirm *
instrument,
needle
and
swab
counts
where
applicable.* 🧪
Confirm *
specimen
labelling
and
identification.* ⚠️
Identify
any *
equipment
problems
requiring
attention.* 📋
Communicate *
important
post-operative
concerns
or
recovery
plans.* « ```
Before
the
patient
leaves
theatre,
make
sure
nothing
important
has
been
forgotten—
and
make
sure
the
next
team
knows
what
they
need
to
know``` .» *“
Are
we
ready
to
anaesthetise
safely?”* *“
Are
we
about
to
perform
the
right
procedure
on
the
right
patient
and
site?”* *“
Have
we
completed
the
procedure
safely
and
communicated
everything
necessary?”* ❌
Treating
the
checklist
as
a
routine
formality ❌
Completing
it
without
active
team
participation ❌
Rushing
through
the
Time
Out ❌
Failing
to
involve
the
whole
team ❌
Assuming
everyone
knows
the
plan ❌
Ignoring
concerns
raised
by
junior
staff
or
other
team
members ✅ *
SAFER
APPROACH* *“
In
my
workplace,
do
we
genuinely
pause
and
communicate
during
Sign
In,
Time
Out
and
Sign
Out—
or
do
we
simply
tick
the
boxes?”*
A
checklist
only
improves
safety
when
it
is
used
properly
and
consistently. *
Stop
and
verify.* *
Confirm
and
communicate.* 🏥 *
Three
simple
pauses
can
prevent
serious
errors
and
protect
our
patients* 📚 *
CPD
TAKEAWAY* *
Safe
surgery
is
a
team
responsibility.
Speak
up,
verify,
communicate
and
never
be
afraid
to
pause
when
something
is
unclear.*