S6 E7 - Patient Safety First: How Collaboration and Innovation Are Shaping Safer Patient Care

In this episode of AXREM Insights, Melanie Johnson and guest host Anna Vaughan are joined by Linda Carruthers, Head of Oncology Physics at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, to explore how patient safety in radiotherapy has evolved and the challenges it now faces. Linda reflects on the major technological advances that have transformed radiotherapy safety, alongside a cultural shift towards openness, learning and true multidisciplinary working. She highlights how end-to-end testing, human factors thinking and a no-blame culture have become essential in identifying risks early and embedding safer practice across the entire patient pathway.

The conversation also looks ahead, examining the pressures of rising demand, increasing treatment complexity and rapid technological change, including the growing role of AI. Linda stresses that patient safety depends on combining innovation with human expertise, careful governance and collaboration across clinical teams, suppliers and organisations like AXREM. The episode reinforces the importance of shared learning, standardisation and partnership in ensuring that safety improvements are not only discussed, but consistently implemented for the benefit of patients across the NHS.

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