The Patient Safety Commissioner has published a new report that examines the safety and accessibility of medicines and medical devices for those with a sensory impairment.

Entitled ‘The Safety Gap’, the report was launched by Professor Henrietta Hughes after hearing from many patients with vision or hearing loss who experience difficulties with medicines and medical technology.

For instance, patients cited being unable to read instructions or warnings on patient leaflets or get the information in a way that meets their needs. Patients told Professor Hughes that they were unable to use some medical devices because their specific needs are not met.

Other issues were also reported by patients with sensory impairments when using medicines and medical devices, such as healthcare professionals not being sufficiently trained or not thinking through the consequences of their actions.

According to Professor Margaret Watson’s research, which the report commissioned, patients are being put at risk when using medicines and medical devices if safety is not considered upfront.

The Patient Safety Commissioner suggests that the views of patients are incorporated when designing and manufacturing devices and ensuring that medicines are made accessible for those with a sensory impairment.

In addition, the report says that by putting safety upfront when designing medicines and devices and their packaging, the system by which patients order, receive, and use their medicines and devices and creating robust feedback loops where people can flag problems, this can reduce the risk to patients, improve patient safety and experience, and avoid harm.

The report strives to lead to positive change for patients based on its findings.

Professor Hughes is calling on health leaders to engage with people with sensory impairments, elevating their voices to make improvements that are person centred. This includes better packaging for medicines and medical devices, a more effective feedback loop when problems are encountered, and ringfenced training for healthcare staff.

Professor Hughes further recommends that information on reasonable adjustments in health records should be made accessible for all healthcare professionals.

The UK Government recently appointed Lawrence Tallon as Chief Executive Officer of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to help accelerate patient access to innovative medical devices.