23 January 2026

CNWL’s Safety Conversation is a week-long series of events dedicated to showcasing the work that’s making a real difference to the people who use our services.

At its heart, safety is about people - the patients, families and carers who trust us with their care, and the staff who are constantly finding new ways to make care safer. This campaign brings their stories to the forefront: what sparked each project, what changed and most importantly, the difference it made.

We’re also delighted to welcome keynote speaker Daniel Hodgkiss, Patient Safety Programme Manager and Managing Deterioration National Co‑Lead at Health Innovation. A long‑standing Health Service Journal (HSJ) judge, Daniel is widely recognised for championing strong, positive safety cultures across healthcare.

The week will round off with an awards ceremony celebrating standout projects from across the Trust. Here’s a glimpse of what’s to come:

Reception is the one moment we see every person entering prison, making it a perfect opportunity for vital health checks. This project used that moment to introduce routine STI testing using samples that were already being collected - no extra appointments, no extra workload.

Once the new process was in place, screening rates shot up to almost 99%, and far more previously undiagnosed infections were picked up and treated. It also removed the need for follow‑up clinics, which many people miss due to prison routines and restrictions.

In such a busy hospital environment, safe handover is essential but relying on verbal updates alone meant important details could be missed. To fix this, the team introduced a digital handover system, giving doctors a clear, real‑time way to track tasks and share information.

Over ten weeks, 100% of the tasks were completed, showing strong adoption and better accountability. Most tasks were urgent medical issues, so having everything recorded and visible made a real difference to safety. Doctors said the system felt more efficient and easier to use, and patients valued knowing fewer tasks would be missed.

A recent audit showed that ARC‑MK’s waiting area wasn’t supporting trauma‑informed care, with issues around privacy, access and overall atmosphere. To fix this, the team asked service users what would make the space feel safer and more welcoming - softer lighting, plants, clearer information, better seating, positive recovery messages and a consistent receptionist.

The aim now is to co‑design a waiting area and early feedback shows that small, low‑cost changes can make a big difference to how people feel the moment they walk in.