"Maria's contribution in terms of developing skills in Root Cause Analysis has been invaluable in the early stages of our work."

Susan Williams/Sue Osborn
Joint Chief Executive
National Patient Safety Agency

"Maria's clinical background, combined with her practical NHS risk management expertise and academic experience provided indispensable and comforting assistance in developing and implementing the guidance to underpin the pilot for the new national system for learning from adverse incidents outlined in Doing Less Harm."

Stuart Emslie
Head of Controls Assurance
Department of Health

"I had heard Maria speak at a number of national events prior to working closely with her during the NPSA Incident Pilot Project.

Maria's depth of knowledge in the field of risk management is vast. She has the ability to keep this knowledge firmly integrated into the realities of clinical practice which makes the application much easier.

She is both challenging and stimulating. Her determination to improve patient care through effective risk management is obvious.

I have been a member of the NPSA Root Cause Analysis Learning Sets which Maria facilitates. She has very good facilitation skills and has the ability to encourage participation from all members of the set.

She has imparted skills to the set members that are very valuable to the patient safety agenda.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the learning sets and have taken time out of a very busy diary to attend because I have gained something of value to take back to my organisation.

I would welcome input from Maria in my own organisation and would encourage others to do the same."

Jean Carter
Assistant Director of Nursing / Head of Risk
South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust
May 2000

"Maria has an energetic, forward thinking approach to risk management which applies best practice and research from inside and out of the NHS. She has gained respect at many levels - national and local - through her innovation and energy."

Keith Reynolds
Risk Manager
Warwickshire Hospitals NHS Trust & Ex. Chair of the Healthcare Specialist Forum Institute of Risk Management

"The RCA Training Sets have provided not only an excellent introduction to a comprehensive and practically applicable approach to adverse event investigation, but have also given us the skills and confidence to deliver such investigations. The training has been well planned, pitched at the right level, well supported in terms of materials and has struck just the right balance between theory and practice."

Stephen Childs Clinical Governance Manager South Shields Primary Care Trust

"Maria Dineen’s facilitation during the learning sets allowed for lively discussion and practical application of the RCA tools. This training will be invaluable to clinical staff in preparation for the roll out of the NPSA national reporting system."

Paula J Mansell
Clinical Risk Manager
Barts and The London NHS Trust

" Excellent facilitation in an open & participative environment, I would recommend the Learning Set Approach to Root Cause Analysis training & skills development to clinical governance leads, risk managers and all healthcare professionals wanting to put patient safety at the top of their organisations agenda."

Judith Chadwick
Clinical Governance Unit Manager
Barts and the London NHS Trust

"I found the learning sets to be rewarding and helpful - particularly the well planned combination of theory and practical application of the analytical techniques and methodologies."

Stuart Rich
Associate Director for Clinical Governance PLD service
South Birmingham Specialist Community Hospitals NHS Trust