Oops! Why Things Go Wrong: Understanding and Controlling Error

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Society’s development has accelerated at warp speed over recent decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Unfortunately, our brains have had trouble keeping up and are trying to function in a highly complex, rapidly changing environment whilst still running on caveman software! Perhaps it’s time to teach people how to analyse information to try to separate the wheat from the chaff.” When I moved out of healthcare and retrained as an airline pilot, I was somewhat disorientated by a completely different approach to error. It was seen as inevitable and, therefore, something to be dealt with, not to be ashamed of.

What can you do to fix the situation? Are there any simple solutions? If you can’t think what to do yourself, ask the person affected if there’s anything you can do to put things right. Niall Downey attended St. Columb’s College in Derry and qualified as a doctor from Trinity College, Dublin. After twelve years of medical training, Niall decided to change course and retrained as an airline pilot with Aer Lingus, initially combining aviation with medicine by working as an Accident & Emergency doctor before focusing full-time on aviation. Includes advice from writers such as Peter James, Cathy Rentzenbrink, S.J. Watson, Kerry Hudson, and Samantha Shannon. WAYB remains an indispensable companion for anyone seriously committed to the profession of author, whether full-time or part-time; and as always it is particularly valued by those who are setting out hopefully on that vocational path.' - David Lodge In this ground-breaking book, Niall Downey - a cardio-thoracic surgeon who retrained to become a commercial airline pilot - uses his expertise in medicine and aviation to explore the critical issue of managing human error. With further examples from business, politics, sport, technology, the civil service and other fields, Downey makes a powerful case that by following some clear guidelines any organisation can greatly reduce the incidence and impact of human error.

Oops! How to deal with mistakes

When I jumped ship to retrain as an airline pilot, I was somewhat disorientated by a completely different approach to error.” Human connections are essential to delivering person-centred care and sometimes the care environment, culture or the way we do things creates harm. In healthcare this can be catastrophic. This book provides safety critical insights and methods to help eliminate avoidable harm. A must read for healthcare teams.’– Professor Charlotte McArdle, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer NHS England In this ground-breaking book, Niall Downey – a cardio-thoracic surgeon who retrained to become a commercial airline pilot – uses his expertise in medicine and aviation to explore the critical issue of managing human error. With further examples from business, politics, sport, technology, the civil service and other fields, Downey makes a powerful case that by following some clear guidelines any organisation can greatly reduce the incidence and impact of human error.

A straight-forward apology, recognising that you’ve made a mistake, goes a long way to patching things up. Take responsibility for your own actions and don’t blame others. Most people are very forgiving – after all, everyone makes mistakes. Put things right We so often sleepwalk through life, assuming the systems around us work for the best. Being attentive to human error not only wakes us from that stupor, but makes us realise the ways we can be attentive to our own mistakes. As relevant to big business, industry and elite sport as it is to the individual, error management and how to be alert to it is an important conversation to be had in all walks of life. Niall’s vast experience makes him the perfect person to write this book.’– Orla Chennaoui, journalist and Lead Presenter for Eurosport’s cycling coverage

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Inside every mistake, there are lessons waiting to get out,” says Dr Peter Honey, who helps companies and employees work better. With success, he says, people tend to celebrate when things go well without always understanding why. With mistakes, people are more likely to work out why things go wrong so they can avoid the same thing happening again. “The good thing about all mistakes, large or small, is that they provide superb learning opportunities.” Move on I have known Niall for many decades, as a medical student in Trinity ... a potential Olympic cyclist, a Surgical Registrar and a pilot. He has always ... been an excellent researcher with great integrity which is reflected in his book Oops! Why Things Go Wrong. I recommend that everyone should read this book.’– Fellow Emeritus Professor Moira O’Brien, Retired Professor of Anatomy, Trinity College, Dublin, Founding Fellow of the RCPI/RCSI Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine