Jump to content
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    11,906

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Patient Safety Learning

Administrators

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Patient Safety Learning

  1. News Article
    NHS trusts were not consulted before the government announced changes to the use of face coverings and visitor policy in English hospitals, the chief executive of NHS Providers has said. Chris Hopson said trust leaders felt "completely in the dark" about the "significant and complex" changes. From 15 June, hospital visitors and outpatients must wear face coverings and staff must use surgical masks. A spokeswoman said that, while the public were "strongly urged" to wear a face covering while inside hospitals, no-one would be denied care. Separately, NHS England has lifted the national suspension on hospital visiting with new guidance for NHS trusts. Read full story Source: BBC News, 6 June 2020
  2. News Article
    Care home residents are on course to make up more than half the deaths caused directly or indirectly by the coronavirus crisis in England, according to a new analysis. The study warns that the death toll by the end of June from OVID-19 infections and other excess deaths is “likely to approach 59,000 across the entire English population, of which about 34,000 (57%) will have been care home residents”. The estimate, produced by the major healthcare business consultancy LaingBuisson, includes people who list a care home as their primary residence, wherever they died – including those who died in hospital. It is based on data from the Office for National Statistics, as well as the analyst’s own modelling of the number of care home resident deaths likely to have occurred in the absence of the pandemic. The new study coincides with mounting concerns over the failure to protect care homes earlier in the pandemic. Senior care industry figures point to the decision to move some hospital patients back to care homes in mid-March. There have also been complaints that non-Covid-related healthcare became less accessible to homes during the height of the pandemic, leading to extra deaths. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 7 June 2020
  3. Content Article
    In order to obtain compensation for harm arising out of medical treatment received within the NHS in Scotland, the elements needed to establish negligence under the law of delict must be satisfied. The Scottish government has expressed the view that a no-fault compensation scheme in relation to clinical negligence claims made against the NHS in Scotland could be simpler than the existing litigation system and could support the development of the concept of a mutual NHS, as well as a positive feedback and learning culture. With this in mind, the government considers that such a scheme is the favoured way forward for the NHS in Scotland. This report reviews and analyses existing no-fault schemes in a number of countries/jurisdictions: New Zealand (NZ); Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway); and the schemes operating in Virginia and Florida (United States) for birth-related neurological injury.
  4. Content Article
    In healthcare, digital solutions have been adopted with zeal, but there is paucity of evidence for benefits and harms of these solutions. The impact, immediate or long term, of digital applications on healthcare has not been assessed. With the overwhelming numbers and types of digital solutions, it is becoming increasingly important to develop evidence-based insights for the integration of these solutions in routine medical care. Digitalisation can certainly empower and enable patients and physicians to achieve health objectives. The World Health Organization has released guidance for digital health after a critical review of available evidence for the benefits, harms, acceptability, feasibility, resource use and equity considerations of digital health interventions. This guidance can potentially inspire and impact future research endeavours for digital applications. Tarveen Jandoo reviews the guidance in context of the current research situation and insights are shared for researchers engaged in the design and assessment of digital interventions.
  5. Content Article
    To deliver a new normal that serves patients we must grab this opportunity to bake patient involvement into new structures, processes and cultures within the NHS, writes Rachel Power, Chief Executive at the Patients Association, in this HSJ article. In responding at scale and pace to coronavirus – discharging patients, cancelling operations, changing how patients access services – the NHS avoided becoming overwhelmed. However, changes were delivered without allowing the patients affected a say. Given the emergency, that was probably necessary and people were largely supportive. But as the NHS looks ahead to what the “new normal” might be, if its recent experience has given it a taste for bold, clinically led change, then the NHS needs to think again.
  6. Content Article
    The Good Governance Institute (GGI) has collaborated with the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) to produce this seminal report into the foundation principles of good governance. Understanding these is key to being able to apply good governance to new and emerging organisations in healthcare, and for working through partnership and hosting arrangements. Drawn from academic study, the various governance Codes and law and established better governance practice GGI and HQIP have identified nine foundation principles. This report explains how to apply these within health and social care organisations. GGI will be taking forward these foundation principles within various developmental programmes during 2012.
  7. News Article
    In many ways it is wrong to talk about the NHS restarting non-coronavirus care. A lot of it never stopped — births, for instance, cannot be delayed because of a pandemic. However, exactly what that care looks like is likely to be very different from what came before. There are more video and telephone consultations and staff treat patients from behind masks and visors. That is likely to be the case for some time, experts have told The Times. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 6 June 2020
  8. News Article
    A contact tracing system has this week been launched in Wales, initially a telephone based process, followed by an online system next week. Anyone who has a positive coronavirus test result will be contacted by a team of contact tracers and asked for details of everyone they have had close contact with while they have had symptoms. From Monday 8th June, a new online system will be used to support the process. People will have the option to use the system to provide details of their close contacts electronically. The system has been trialled in four health board areas over the last two weeks and more than 600 contact tracers have so far been employed, with more to be employed. Health Minister, Vaughan Gething said “Today’s roll-out of the contact tracing element of our Test, Trace, Protect strategy is a significant step forward in the gradual move out of lockdown.” Read full story Source: HTN, 2 June 2020
  9. Content Article
    Alongside the frustrations, difficulties and challenges of the pandemic, many great things are also happening in the healthcare system. Prof Becky Malby and Tony Hufflett from the Health Systems Innovation Lab at London South Bank University undertook a survey to help the NHS bring this all together so that we don’t end up going back to old, less effective habits. They asked a broad mix of frontline, senior, board and middle leadership across different NHS sectors to reflect on their experiences. They received over 70 responses from a mix of frontline, senior, board and middle leadership and other roles. They reflected and spotted patterns in the core changes people are most passionate about and have summarised 10 common themes that have emerged so far.
  10. News Article
    Emergency attendances for several conditions are still well below their normal levels, despite a steady increase in overall activity since the peak of the coronavirus outbreak. Weekly data from Public Health England suggests overall A&E attendances increased to around 105,000 in the last week of May, which was an increase from 98,813 over the previous seven days. Data from the 77 A&E departments included in the research suggests that overall attendances are up to an average of 15,000 day, compared to around 10,000 at the peak of the pandemic and the long-term trend of just under 20,000. However, attendances for bronchitis, acute respiratory infections, respiratory, pneumonia, asthma, gastroenteritis are still far below their normal levels. It did not offer an explanation for why attendances for these conditions have remained low, while those for cardiac, influenza, myocardial Ischaemia, and gastrointestinal problems have returned to normal levels or above. Read full story Source: HSJ, 5 June 2020
  11. News Article
    Michael Seres, an entrepreneur, patient advocate, husband and father of three, died on Saturday in Orange County, California, of a sepsis infection. He was 51. Seres was widely considered to be one of the first and most prominent “e-patients,” a term which has become popular to denote patients who are informed and engaged in their health, often sharing their experiences online. He is also one of a small number of patient inventors who helped design and build a medical device – a digitally enhanced ostomy bag – that got FDA clearance in 2014. His invention eased the suffering of millions of people with bowel injuries, chronic gut illnesses and cancer. Source: CNBC, 2 June 2020 Read more about Michael and his innovative patient work in our hub blog
  12. Event
    until
    COVID-19 is, and has been, the most challenging period for our nation, especially for the NHS. People working in the NHS have been at the forefront of this, and many have had to change or adapt their role at very short notice. This free webinar, chaired by Dr Phil Moore will be led by Dr David Smart, a practising GP with over thirty years’ experience, and Dave Smithson, Operations Director of Anxiety UK. It will feature interviews from NHS colleagues from the frontline on how COVID-19 has affected them, their coping strategies, their worries for the future and positive learning that can be taken from this crisis. This will give a real-time perspective on how stressful and exhausting this time has been. Further information and registration
  13. Community Post
    Prerana Issar, Chief People Officer of NHS England and NHS Improvement recently retweeted a message from NHS England and NHS Improvement that "It's so important (for NHS staff) to feel able to speak up about anything which gets in the way of patient care and their own wellbeing". But we still have a long way to go and much needs to change before NHS staff can be sure that it is safe for them to speak up, as highlighted in a blog published on the hub today from our topic lead, Hugh Wilkins: The right – and duty – of NHS staff to speak up What do you think? Are you a staff member who has spoken up? What was your experience? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
  14. Event
    until
    Join a great panel at this free CECOPS webinar. Email info@cecops.org.uk for further information and joining instructions.
  15. News Article
    The government urgently needs to set out a plan to reduce the huge backlog of patients waiting for NHS treatments unrelated to COVID-19 in the wake of the pandemic, the BMA has said. The call came as the BMA released the results of its latest survey of over 8000 doctors. It found that more than half (3754 of 7238) were either not very confident or not confident at all that their department would be able to manage patient demand as NHS services resumed. “The government must be honest with the public about the surge to come and start meaningful conversations with frontline clinicians about how we can, together, begin to tackle the backlog,” said the BMA’s chair of council, Chaand Nagpaul. “Covid-19 has brought with it the worst health crisis in a century. The NHS must not return to its previous perilous state.” Read full story Source: BMJ, 4 June 2020
  16. News Article
    There were almost 10,000 unexplained extra deaths among people with dementia in England and Wales in April, according to official figures that have prompted alarm about the severe impact of social isolation on people with the condition. The data, from the Office for National Statistics, reveals that, beyond deaths directly linked to COVID-19, there were 83% more deaths from dementia than usual in April, with charities warning that a reduction in essential medical care and family visits were taking a devastating toll. “It’s horrendous that people with dementia have been dying in their thousands,” said Kate Lee, chief executive officer at Alzheimer’s Society. “We’ve already seen the devastating effect of coronavirus on people with dementia who catch it, but our [research] reveals that the threat of the virus extends far beyond that.” The charity thinks the increased numbers of deaths from dementia are resulting partly from increased cognitive impairment caused by isolation, the reduction in essential care as family carers cannot visit, and the onset of depression as people with dementia do not understand why loved ones are no longer visiting, causing them to lose skills and independence, such as the ability to speak or even stopping eating and drinking. Another factor may be interruptions to usual health services, with more than three-quarters of care homes reporting that GPs have been reluctant to visit residents. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 5 June 2020
  17. News Article
    Several mental health trusts have reported spikes in incidents of physical restraint or seclusion on patients, driven by COVID-19 restrictions, HSJ has learned. Concerns have been raised nationally about the potential for incidents to increase during the pandemic, due to temporary measures which have had to be introduced such as visiting restrictions and communication difficulties due to personal protective equipment. Read full story Source: HSJ, 5 June 2020
  18. News Article
    The postponement of tens of thousands of hospital procedures is putting the lives of people with long-term heart conditions at risk, according to the British Heart Foundation. The coronavirus pandemic has created a backlog which would only get larger as patients waited for care, it said. People with heart disease are at increased risk of serious illness with COVID-19, and some are shielding. The BHF estimates that 28,000 procedures have been delayed in England since the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK. These are planned hospital procedures, including the implanting of pacemakers or stents, widening blocked arteries to the heart, and tests to diagnose heart problems. People now waiting for new appointments would already have been waiting for treatment when the lockdown started, the charity said, as it urged the NHS to support people with heart conditions "in a safe way". Read full story Source: 5 June 2020
  19. Content Article
    Report from the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (now the Professional Standards Authority). The CHRE was commissioned in July 2011 to advise the Secretary of State for Health on standards of personal behaviour, technical competence and business practices for members of NHS boards and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) governing bodies in England. This report presents their findings and advice.
  20. Content Article
    This documentary is about a tragic and avoidable accident which took place during a diver training course in May 2018. As with many adverse events, there were many contributory and causal factors involved. With hindsight, it is easy to spot them, but in real time, they aren't so obvious. Especially, when they happen relatively frequently without any adverse consequences. A remarkable film with many lessons relevant to health care around human behaviour, systems and just culture.
  21. News Article
    NASA scientists as well as other innovators are busy developing alternatives to the traditional ventilator being used worldwide to treat severe cases of COVID-19. The movement is in response to growing evidence that in some cases ventilators can cause more harm than good in some patients with low oxygen levels. Statistics tell the story: 80% of patients with the coronavirus die on such machines. Its VITAL machine is tailored for COVID-19 patients and is focused on providing air delicately to stiff lungs — a hallmark symptom of the virus. Eight U.S. manufacturers have been selected to make the ventilator that was made in 37 days by engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Read full story Source: CNBC, 30 May 2020 Read f
  22. News Article
    A new rapid coronavirus testing device has been shown to reduce the average stay for patients on a COVID-19 holding ward at a UK hospital by almost half. The Samba II portable machines can diagnose the virus in less than 90 minutes and have been trialled at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The average length of stay for patients on a coronavirus holding ward, before they were either discharged or could progress with treatment, fell from 58.5 hours to 30 hours, according to the Cambridge University study. Researchers said the devices “could make all the difference” in freeing up hospital capacity as the NHS faces a mounting backlog of operations due to the pandemic. Read full story Source: The Independent, 3 June 2020
  23. News Article
    The pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to settle a legal action by hundreds of Scottish women who claimed they suffered serious injuries from the company’s pelvic mesh implants. The settlement came as four lead cases brought by women who suffered pain and other serious side effects from the implants, made by Johnson and Johnson subsidiary Ethicon, were about to reach court in Edinburgh. Read full story (paywalled) Source: BMJ, 2 June 2020
  24. News Article
    The head of NHS test and trace has refused to give MPs any data on the first six days of the new service, leading health committee chair Jeremy Hunt to warn that a lack of transparency could “destroy confidence” in its work. Baroness Dido Harding, who is leading the new effort, said she was working to validate performance data, which relies on people with COVID-19 symptoms isolating and being called by a team of tracers to identify others they have been in contact with. MPs had wanted to know how many patients had been contacted within 24 hours as well as how many were willing to share their contacts, and the compliance with self-isolation advice. But Baroness Harding said she would not share the information until the UK Statistics Authority was happy with the data and could ensure it can be trusted. The UKSA criticised the government earlier this week over its public use of test results data. Chair of the committee and former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was “disappointed” with her refusal and said it was hard for the committee to scrutinise services if it did not have the data, which she had been pre-warned it would ask for. Leaked information on Tuesday suggested only two-fifths of coronavirus patients and one-third of their contacts were identified and contacted by the tracing service. Read full story Source: The Independent, 3 June 2020
  25. News Article
    Large numbers of staff could have been unknowingly spreading coronavirus through care homes, according to the UK's largest charitable care home provider. Data from MHA shows 42% of its staff members who recently tested positive were not displaying symptoms. Nearly 45% of residents who had a positive test were also asymptomatic. MHA operates in England, Scotland and Wales and has fully tested staff and residents in 86 of its 90 homes so far. A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Our priority is to ensure care workers and those receiving care are protected, and the latest statistics show over 60% of care homes have had no outbreak at all. "We've set out a comprehensive support package for residents and staff, including a £600m infection control fund, testing regardless of whether you have symptoms, and a named clinical lead to support every care home." In total, 7% of MHA staff and 13% of residents received a positive test result. Routine testing is not yet under way. MHA CEO Sam Monaghan told BBC Newsnight: "It is not difficult to imagine that a lot of people may not have ended up dying if we'd had earlier testing and we'd been therefore better able to manage infection control in our homes." Read full story Source: BBC News, 3 June 2020
×
×
  • Create New...