Risk management in obstetrics

Clinical risk management is key to improving the safety of care that we provide. In obstetrics, it is particularly important as it is a high-risk speciality, and the cost of mistakes is high, both financially and in human terms. Human error is inevitable, so there is a need to understand the theory of human error and the systems, rather than person-centred, approach to dealing with adverse events. Risk management has many components, including organisational culture, risk assessment, training, induction, guidelines, communication, audit, learning from adverse incidents, claims and complaints. For the future, the aim should be to move from risk management to a safety culture.