Mulago National Referral Hospital has embarked on standardising the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist to improve patient safety and efficiency in surgical procedures.
This initiative responds to the rising number of complaints from patients about inadequate care and complications during surgery.
The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist is a comprehensive tool designed to enhance surgical safety by ensuring that critical steps are followed before, during, and after operations.
These steps include confirming patient identity, verifying the correct procedure, and ensuring all necessary equipment is available. By adhering to these guidelines, surgical teams can significantly reduce the risk of errors and complications.
Dr. Nakwagala Fred, Deputy Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital, emphasised the importance of this checklist in improving surgical turnaround times.
“When effectively implemented, the checklist has the potential to streamline our processes and enhance patient safety,” he stated.
With Mulago performing over 100 surgeries daily, the need for standardised practices has never been more critical.
Despite the high volume of surgeries conducted at Mulago, compliance with the WHO checklist has been inconsistent. A recent study revealed that overall compliance with the checklist across various Ugandan hospitals was only 41.7%, with significant variations among facilities.
This low compliance rate highlights the urgent need for standardised practices to ensure that all surgical teams adhere to safety protocols.
Dr. Orwotho Fred, Head of the Surgical Department at Mulago, noted that improving compliance with the checklist is essential for enhancing surgical outcomes.
“We must ensure that every team member understands and follows these guidelines diligently,” he remarked.
As Mulago National Referral Hospital focuses on enhancing surgical safety, it is imperative for all medical professionals involved in surgical care to commit to following these life-saving protocols.