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Sam

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  1. Event
    This masterclass will cover the new guidance and provide participants with an in-depth knowledge of what needs to be done to comply with the duty of candour; clarify ‘grey areas’ and provide advice on dealing with difficult situations which may arise. It will provide participants with an understanding of good practice in implementing the duty and, in particular doing so in a meaningful way with empathy, to not only comply, but to work with patients and loved ones in a way that puts the emotional experience at the heart of communication. Anyone with responsibility for implementing the duty of candour should attend, whether as a health or social care professional or at an organisational level, be it in the NHS, private healthcare or social care. Health and social care professionals; staff with responsibility for quality, safety, clinical governance, safety investigations, complaints or CQC compliance, patient experience and executive teams would benefit from attending. For further information and to book your place visit https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/conferences-masterclasses/duty-of-candour or email kerry@hc-uk.org.uk hub members receive a 20% discount. Please email info@pslhub.org for discount code
  2. Event
    This conference, which is Chaired by Simon Hammond, Director of Claims Management, NHS Resolution, will update clinicians and managers on clinical negligence with a particular focus on current issues and the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on clinical negligence claims. Featuring leadings legal experts, NHS Resolution and experienced clinicians the event will provide an update on current claims the conference will discuss why patients litigate, The Coronavirus Act 2020 and Clinical Negligence Scheme for Coronavirus, responding to claims regarding COVID-19 and the implications of the coronavirus clinical negligence claims protocol. There will be an extended masterclass on trends in clinical negligence claims and responding to claims followed by an extended focus on Maternity Claims. The conference will close with a case study on the advantages of bringing together complaints, claims and patients safety investigation, and practical experiences of coronavirus complaints and claims at an NHS Trust – including understanding the standard of care on which services should be judged, and a final session on supporting clinicians when a claim is made against them. For more information visit https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/clinical-negligence or email kate@hc-uk.org.uk hub members receive a 20% discount. Please email info@pslhub.org for discount code Follow the conversation on Twitter #clinicalnegligence
  3. Event
    Aimed at Clinicians and Managers, this national virtual conference will provide a practical guide to human factors in healthcare, and how a human factors approach can improve patient care, quality, process and safety. This conference will enable you to: Network with colleagues who are working to embed a human factors approach. Learn from outstanding practice in using human factors and ergonomics to improve patient safety and quality. Reflect on national developments and learning. Understand the tools and methodology. Develop your skills in training and educating frontline staff in human factors. Reflect on how an understanding of human factors can change both culture and practice. Understand how you can improve patient safety incident by using a human factors approach. Learn from case studies demonstrating the practical application of human factors to improve patient care. Self assess and reflect on your own practice. Gain CPD accreditation points contributing to professional development and revalidation evidence. Patient Safety Learning, Chief Exec, Helen Hughes will be giving a presentation on using a human factors approach to improve patient safety. For further information and to book your place visit https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/human-factors-in-healthcare or email kerry@hc-uk.org.uk hub members receive a 20% discount. Please email info@pslhub.org for discount code Follow the conversation on Twitter #HumanFactors
  4. Event
    This Hospital at Night Summit focuses on out of hours care in hospitals delivering high quality safe care at night. Through national updates, networking opportunities and case studies this conference provides a practical guide to delivering a high quality hospital at night, and moving forward during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference will also focus on improving staff well-being at night and reducing fatigue. For more information visit: https://www.healthcareconferencesuk.co.uk/virtual-online-courses/hospital-at-night-summit or email nicki@hc-uk.org.uk hub members receive a 20% discount. Please email info@pslhub.org for discount code Follow on Twitter @HCUK_Clare #hospitalatnight
  5. Event
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    Join this one-hour session,with Bola Ruddock, Senior Project Manager in the Blueprinting Team at NHSx, to give an introduction to Blueprints. Jocelyn Palmer, Assistant Director of Programmes, NHSx will present on the 'What Good Looks Like' programme. What Good Looks Like (WGLL) is an NHSX led programme that aims to empower frontline leaders, so a CEO can see whether their organisation is doing everything it can to create a common vision for good digital practice across health and care. The ePrescribing masterclass series consists of a monthly webinar where NHS organisations can share their learning and experiences on digital transformation and enabling Trusts to follow in their footsteps as quickly and effectively as possible. The sessions are designed to accelerate digital transformation, reduce unwarranted variation, and deliver quality improvements in patient safety, clinical outcomes, and service user experience. It is also an opportunity for people to present at a national level. Register
  6. Event
    Poor lifestyle choices are leading to a rapid growth in non-communicable diseases, resulting in increased healthcare expenditure, preventable morbidity, and premature deaths. The increasingly sedentary nature of our lifestyles, which can lead to obesity or being overweight, has contributed to growth in the numbers suffering from type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Prevention and effective management of long-term conditions is likely to be more cost effective than treating the illnesses as they occur. This webinar will highlight how behaviour change can reduce the likelihood of becoming obese, becoming type 2 diabetic, or suffering from heart disease. The session will look at recommendations around four key health and wellness pillars; activity, sleep, stress and nutrition and how achieving balance across them can help prevent some non-communicable diseases. It will explore ‘social prescriptions’ and the role they can play to help those at risk of, or suffering from these diseases to actively participate in their own health and care. Additionally, it will consider how remote patient monitoring can help proactively manage these patient populations outside of primary and secondary care environments, reducing the burden on NHS resources. Register
  7. News Article
    A hospital with a roof containing beams described as a ‘significant safety issue’ could be rebuilt or replaced rather than repaired, at a likely cost of several hundred million pounds. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 5 July 2021
  8. Content Article
    There is an overall dearth of information on implementation and compliance with patient safety standards in developing countries. In recognition of this, the World Bank Group’s Health in Africa Initiative, WHO and the PharmAccess Foundation came together with the ministries of health to conduct an assessment of patient safety at Kenyan health facilities. The study is the first nationwide assessment of patient safety levels based on documented processes and levels of risk, and is meant to serve as a baseline against which future interventions can be measured.
  9. Event
    Panelists will discuss the key elements for successful CANDOR implementation after robust organisational current state assessment. Methods for timely and comprehensive reporting, steps for event investigation and analysis, alignment of ongoing education with communication, strategies to reduce caregiver burnout through peer support, and elements for CANDOR sustainability are recommended. Register
  10. Content Article
    Interventions to decrease burnout and increase well-being in health care workers (HCWs) and improve organizational safety culture are urgently needed. This study from Sexton et al. was conducted to determine the association between Positive Leadership WalkRounds (PosWR), an organizational practice in which leaders conduct rounds and ask staff about what is going well, and HCW well-being and organizational safety culture.
  11. News Article
    Self-harm among the over-65s must receive greater focus because of the increased risks associated with the pandemic, a leading expert has said. Loneliness, bereavement and reluctance to access GPs can all be causes in older adults, said Prof Nav Kapur, who has produced guidelines on the subject. He warned that in over-65s, without the right help, self-harm can also be a predictor of later suicide attempts. The NHS's mental health director said it had expanded its community support. Claire Murdoch added that its services, including face-to-face appointments, had "continued for all who needed them", and 24/7 crisis lines had been established. Over-65s are hospitalised more than 5,000 times a year in England because of self-harm and self-poisoning, figures obtained from NHS Digital show. Read full story Source: BBC News, 3 June 2021
  12. News Article
    Oversight failures, a fearful workplace culture and lax quality standards for years at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Arkansas, USA, allowed a pathologist who was routinely drunk on the job to misdiagnose thousands of veterans — sometimes with dire or deadly consequences, a new investigation has found. Hospital leaders “failed to promote a culture of accountability” that would have led more of the doctor’s colleagues to come forward with accounts that his behavior was putting patients at risk, according to the report released Wednesday by VA’s Office of Inspector General. But the staff members at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville feared that reporting their concerns would lead to retaliation from their bosses. “Any one of these breakdowns could cause harmful results,” Inspector General Michael Missal’s staff wrote in an 86-page report about the failures to stop the pathologist, Robert Morris Levy. “Together and over an extended period of time, the consequences were devastating, tragic, and deadly.” Read full story Source: The Washington Post, 2 June 2021
  13. News Article
    More than 20 healthcare organisations, including those representing nurses, doctors, surgeons and therapists, are calling for stricter UK guidelines to be introduced on face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE). In a virtual meeting with officials, they will say existing rules leave them vulnerable to infection through the air, especially by new Covid variants. The unprecedented appeal will see them argue that other countries, such as the United States, protect their health workers with higher-grade equipment. It is thought to be the first time health and care organisations have united on a single issue in this way - a sign of the desperation many feel about the need for staff to be kept safe. The delegation will include representatives of the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing and many other professional organisations and unions. On the government side will be about 20 of the most senior officials from all four UK nations, many involved in setting the guidelines on personal protective equipment (PPE). Read full story Source: BBC News, 3 June 2021
  14. News Article
    The Care Quality Commission may in future be notified when ‘secretive’ external reviews have looked at patient safety issues within trusts. Last summer, HSJ revealed guidance for trusts to publish summaries of royal colleges’ reviews was being widely ignored, with some even failing to inform the CQC. A recent BBC Panorama programme has again raised the issue, with Academy of Medical Royal Colleges chair Helen Stokes-Lampard saying she was “dismayed” the body’s guidance was not being followed. But she has now told HSJ of “advanced discussions” with the CQC about changes which would see the royal colleges routinely inform the regulator when reviews raise patient safety issues. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 3 June 2021
  15. News Article
    A woman was subjected to an unnecessary invasive procedure in an NHS outpatient clinic after she was confused for another patient, a safety watchdog has found. The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch has called for a review of how the NHS can avoid the mishap happening again after investigating the case of a 39-year-old woman who was subjected to an unnecessary cervical examination. HSIB said a better system was needed as the number of outpatient appointments has increased from 54 million to 94 million during the last 10 years with many clinics carrying out more invasive procedures. According to its latest investigation, the female patient was attending a gynaecological outpatient clinic for a fertility treatment assessment. The error happened when she was called through from the waiting room as another patient had a similar sounding name. Read full story Source: The Independent, 2 June 2021
  16. News Article
    A second “mutilated” patient left with life-changing injuries after botched hospital surgery has described how she was left in urine-soaked bed sheets for days by nurses who called her lazy when she was unable to get out of bed. Lucy Wilson told The Independent she believes she would have been better looked after at a veterinary practice compared to the level of care she received from nurses at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Trust in January last year. She was one of three patients harmed by surgeon Camilo Valero in the same week and almost died after Dr Valero and other staff failed to recognise her life-threatening injuries following the operation to remove her gall bladder. Dr Valero is under investigation by the General Medical Council but is still practising under supervision at the trust, which has refused to say whether the third patient survived their ordeal. After requests by The Independent, bosses at the NHS trust have now committed to publishing details of a secret review carried out by the Royal College of Surgeons into Dr Valero’s work and the wider surgical services at the trust. Read full story Source: The Independent, 31 May 2021
  17. News Article
    A new national service has been established to improve the quality and management of healthcare construction and refurbishment projects across NHS Scotland. NHS Scotland Assure brings together experts to improve quality and support the design, construction and maintenance of major healthcare developments. This world first interdisciplinary team will include microbiologists, infection prevention and control nurses, architects, planners, and engineers. Commissioned by the Scottish Government and established by NHS National Services Scotland, the service will work with Health Boards to ensure healthcare buildings are designed with infection prevention and control practice in mind, protecting patients and improving safety. Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Humza Yousaf said: “NHS Scotland Assure will support a culture of collaboration and transparency to provide the reassurance patients and their families deserve to feel safe in our hospitals. This service is unique to Scotland and is leading the way in risk and quality management across healthcare facilities. “With services designed with patients in mind, we can make a real, positive difference to people’s lives.” Read full story Source: Scottish Government, 1 June 2021
  18. News Article
    Thousands of hospital patients were allowed to return to their care homes without a Covid test despite a direct plea to the government from major care providers not to allow the practice, the Observer has been told. As the crisis began to unfold in early March 2020, providers held an emergency meeting with department of health officials in which they urged the government not to force them to accept untested residents. However, weeks later, official advice remained that tests were not mandatory and thousands of residents are thought to have returned to their homes without a negative Covid result. The revelation will heap further pressure on the health secretary, Matt Hancock, who has admitted some care residents returned from hospital without a test. It comes after Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s former senior adviser, last week accused Hancock of misleading the prime minister over the policy, during his unprecedented evidence in parliament. Some 25,000 people were discharged to care homes between 17 March and 15 April, and there is widespread belief among social care workers and leaders that this allowed the virus to get into the homes. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 29 May 2021
  19. News Article
    An online trend that involves using tiny magnets as fake tongue piercings has led the NHS to call for them to be banned amid people swallowing them. Ingesting more than one of them can be life-threatening and cause significant damage within hours. In England, 65 children have required urgent surgery after swallowing magnets in the last three years. The NHS issued a patient safety alert earlier this month and is now calling for the small metal balls to be banned. It said the "neodymium or 'super strong' rare-earth magnets are sold as toys, decorative items and fake piercings, and are becoming increasingly popular". It added that unlike traditional ones, "these 'super strong' magnets are small in volume but powerful in magnetism and easily swallowed". The online trend sees people placing two such magnets on either side of their tongue to create the illusion that the supposed piercing is real. But when accidentally swallowed, the small magnetic ball bearings are forced together in the intestines or bowels, squeezing the tissue so that the blood supply is cut off. Read full story Source: BBC News, 30 May 2021
  20. News Article
    People who remain chronically ill after Covid infections in England have had to wait months for appointments and treatment at specialist clinics set up to handle the surge in patients with long Covid. MPs called on Matt Hancock, the health secretary, to explain the lengthy waiting times and what they described as a “shameful postcode lottery” which left some patients facing delays of more than four months before being assessed at a specialist centre while others were seen within days. NHS England announced in December that people with long Covid, or post-Covid syndrome, could seek help at more than 60 specialist clinics. But despite government assertions in January that the network of 69 centres was already operating, the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus found that some clinics were still not up and running three months later. Freedom of information requests submitted to NHS trusts revealed that while some clinics had opened and were seeing patients, others had been delayed by the second wave of infections in January. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 30 May 2021
  21. News Article
    Research has found that people who go to A&E following self-harm receive varying quality of care and this has a significant impact on what they experience subsequently. The study in BMJ Open, which was codesigned and co-authored with people who have lived experience of self-harm and mental health services, found negative experiences were common, and revealed stigmatising comments about injuries from some hospital staff. Some participants reported being refused medical care or an anaesthetic because they had harmed themselves. This had a direct impact on their risk of repeat self-harm and suicide risk, as well as their general mental health. According to the research, the participants who received supportive assessments with healthcare staff reported feeling better, less suicidal and were less likely to repeat self- harm. "This research highlights the importance of learning from the experiences of individuals to help improve care for people who have harmed themselves. We involved patients and carers throughout the entire process and this enabled us to gain a greater insight into what patients want after they present to hospital having harmed themselves", said Dr Leah Quinlivan. Read full story Source: University of Manchester, 25 May 2021
  22. News Article
    Almost as soon as the pandemic struck early last year, NHS England recognised that patients catching Covid-19 while they were in hospital for non-Covid care was a real risk and could lead to even more deaths than were already occurring. Unfortunately their fears have been borne out by events since – every acute hospital in England has been hit by this problem to some extent. Over the last 15 months various NHS and medical bodies have looked into hospital-acquired Covid and published reports and detailed guidance to help hospitals stem its spread. They include the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) and Public Health England (PHE). Last May, for example, PHE estimated that 20% of coronavirus infections in hospitalised patients and almost 90% of infections among healthcare staff may have been nosocomial, meaning they were caught in a hospital setting. Before the pandemic the NHS was over-stretched and resources were limited. The crisis distorted it further out of shape and despite NHS staff making huge efforts to contain the virus in extremely challenging circumstances, too often they were overwhelmed. There are many other reasons, including inadequate ventilation, the sharing of equipment, and nurses and doctors having to gather at nurses’ stations and in doctors’ messes. Some bereaved relatives also cite hospitals deciding – inexplicably – to put their Covid-free loved ones in a bay or ward with one or more people who had the disease, sometimes resulting in tragedy. While some of these inherent weaknesses have been addressed, others remain, leaving further infections and even more deaths in this way a distinct possibility if the NHS is hit by another Covid surge. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 24 May 2021
  23. News Article
    Serious patient safety concerns have been raised about a third major specialty at a struggling acute trust, with inspectors also flagging wider leadership issues. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has issued an immediate warning notice in relation to the stroke service at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust, following an inspection earlier this month. A full report will be published later this year, but the immediate issues have been outlined within various documents published ahead of the trust’s board meeting on 26 May. According to a summary within the papers, the CQC warning notice has flagged “a range of incidents… identifying poor care that requires investigation”, governance concerns around the grading of incidents, poor levels of training and competencies, and worrying delays around administering thrombolysis. The problems were predominantly found at Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 25 May 2021
  24. News Article
    Hospitals have been accused of “unnecessary secrecy” for refusing to disclose how many of their patients died after catching Covid on their wards. The Patients Association, doctors’ leaders and the campaign group Transparency International have criticised the 42 NHS acute trusts in England that did not comply fully with freedom of information request for hospital-acquired Covid infections and deaths. The Guardian revealed on Monday that up to 8,700 patients lost their lives after probably or definitely becoming infected during the pandemic while in hospital for surgery or other treatment. That was based on responses from 81 of the 126 trusts from which it sought figures. The British Medical Association, the main doctors’ trade union, said the 42 trusts that did not reveal how many such deaths had occurred in their hospitals were denying the bereaved crucial information. “No one should come into hospital with one condition, only to be made incredibly ill with, or even die from, a dangerous infectious disease,” Dr Rob Harwood, chair of the BMA’s hospital consultants committee, said. “Families, including those of our own colleagues who died fighting this virus on the frontline, deserve answers. We will only get that if there is full transparency." Read full story Source: The Guardian, 25 May 2021
  25. News Article
    Safety and quality, as well as integration and leadership, will be a “core focus” for the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) ratings of integrated care systems (ICS), health secretary Matt Hancock has indicated. In a letter to health and social care committee chair Jeremy Hunt, Mr Hancock said the Department of Health and Social Care is working with the CQC and NHS England to develop “detailed proposals” on how ICSs will be regulated. The CQC is due to be given “new powers” to rate ICSs under the government’s proposed health and social care bill. The confirmation that the CQC’s ratings of ICSs will include a focus on safety and quality comes days after former health secretary Mr Hunt warned the NHS could take a “big step back” if ICSs are not rated on these domains. In the letter published today, Mr Hancock said: “I see these new powers for the CQC as an excellent opportunity not only to inform the public about the quality of health and care in their area, but also as a way to review progress against our aspirations for delivering better, more joined up care across integrated care systems. “I note your recommendation that quality and safety of care should be a core domain of the CQC reviews and would like to assure you that, alongside integration and leadership, quality and safety will be a core focus when rating integrated care systems." Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 25 May 2021
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