Clinical Human Factors Group

In brief

The Clinical Human Factors Group was set up by Martin Bromiley with support from the Health Foundation in 2007. Established as an independent campaign group, (registered as a charitable trust) the Group aims to stimulate dialogue and demonstrate how a better understanding of the role of human factors can have a significant impact on safety, quality and productivity in healthcare. The work of the Clinical Human Factors Group was mentioned specifically by Andrew Lansley in his first speech as the new Secretary of State for Health.

The group is a broad coalition of healthcare professionals, managers and users of services who have partnered with experts in human factors from healthcare and other high-risk industries to campaign for change in the NHS. 

Its vision is of a healthcare system that places an understanding of human factors at the heart of improving clinical, managerial and organisational practice. 

It aims to enhance patient safety by combining human factors with an approach to change informed by improvement science. There is a growing evidence base to support this view and most significantly considerable support for these approaches exists amongst clinicians, managers and users of health services alike.