The NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration (GM PSRC) Team Meeting on 13 June 2025 was a resounding success, bringing together a vibrant community of researchers, professional services and public contributors united by a shared mission: to improve patient safety through meaningful research and collaboration. With 45 attendees from across the funded and affiliated network, the event was a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from working together. From early-career researchers, public contributors and research leads, the day was rich with networking, knowledge exchange, and a collective drive to translate research into real-world impact. The energy in the room was palpable – conversations sparked new ideas, partnerships were strengthened, and a renewed sense of purpose carried us forward. 

Held in Manchester, the day was chaired by Professor Maria Panagioti and Dr Penny Lewis, and featured a packed agenda of presentations, workshops, and discussions. 

Key insights from the day:

Designing for People: Professor Melissa Baysari’s keynote reminded us that digital tools like clinical decision support must be designed with clinicians in mind—balancing safety with usability to avoid alert fatigue. 

Power of Co-Creation: Dr Louise Gorman’s session highlighted how involving patients and the public throughout the research process leads to more relevant, impactful outcomes. 

Fresh Perspectives: Our new PhD students brought energy and innovation, tackling challenges from GP burnout to low-value care and medication safety in older patients. 

Making Impact Intentional: Emma Hatton and Jackie Reynolds encouraged us to plan for impact from the outset—engaging stakeholders early and measuring change meaningfully.  

Setting the Scene 

The day began with a warm welcome from Professor Darren Ashcroft, Director of NIHR GM PSRC, who shared key updates on our progress, including the submission of our Year 2 annual report and the success of our Patient Safety Development Award Scheme. He also highlighted recent accolades, including Professor Tony Avery’s Honorary Fellowship and Professor Rachel Elliott’s appointment as an NIHR Senior Investigator. 

Fast-Track to Impact: Research Highlights 

A rapid-fire session showcased the latest developments across our research themes: 

• Dr Mark Jeffries presented findings from the AsterAKI qualitative study, offering a powerful lens into patient experiences post-AKI through a ‘Lifeworld’ approach. 

• Dr Amelia Taylor shared outcomes from the national rollout of the PINCER intervention, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing hazardous prescribing. 

• Dr Alireza Mahboub-Ahari provided an economic perspective on post-AKI care, highlighting the potential value of collaborative care models. 
• Professor Carolyn Tarrant explored how ethnically diverse NHS staff experience speaking up for patient safety, with implications for organisational culture and inclusivity. 

Co-Creation in Practice 

Dr Louise Gorman led a thought-provoking workshop on co-creation and delivery in research. Drawing on lived experiences and practical examples, the session emphasised the importance of embedding patient and public involvement throughout the research lifecycle. The GM PSRC’s award-winning PPIE toolkit in self-harm and suicide prevention was also spotlighted. 

Keynote: Professor Melissa Baysari 

We were delighted to welcome Professor Melissa Baysari from the University of Sydney, who delivered a compelling keynote on the design and implementation challenges of clinical decision support (CDS) systems. Her research underscored the importance of human factors in digital health, the risks of alert fatigue, and the need for smarter, evidence-based CDS tools that genuinely support clinical work. 

From Research to Reality 

Emma Hatton and Jackie Reynolds from the FBMH Research Impact team shared practical strategies for planning, measuring, and evidencing research impact. Their session encouraged attendees to think strategically about stakeholder engagement and the real-world benefits of their work. 

New Voices, New Ideas 

The afternoon concluded with inspiring presentations from our newest PhD students: 

• Saher Nawaz is adapting the REBOOT coaching programme to support GPs in coping with adverse events. 

• Yuan Tian is tackling low-value care in primary care to improve patient safety. 
• Jessica McCann is investigating medication use in older critical care patients to reduce inappropriate prescribing. 

Closing Reflections 

Dr Penny Lewis brought the day to a close, thanking all speakers and attendees for their contributions. Special thanks were extended to Professor Melissa Baysari for travelling from Australia to join us, and to Emma and Jackie for their tailored impact session. 

As we look ahead, we’re reminded of the power of collaboration, the value of diverse perspectives, and the importance of translating research into meaningful change. 

If you attended the day, we would be delighted if you could complete the feedback form.  

Thank you to everyone who joined us – we look forward to seeing you again soon at our next event.

Related