Search the hub
Showing results for tags 'Surgery - General'.
Found 501 results
-
News Article
NHS having to ‘pick up pieces’ of medical tourism ‘boom’, say doctors
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The NHS is having to provide emergency care to rising numbers of patients suffering serious complications following weight loss surgery and hair transplants abroad amid a “boom” in medical tourism, doctors have warned. Medics said they were being left to “pick up the pieces” as more Britons seeking cheap operations overseas return with infections and other issues. In some cases, patients are dying as a result of botched surgeries performed in other countries. Hospitals have even had to cancel elective procedures for patients because beds were being taken up by someone who needed an overseas procedure fixed. There were also concerns over patients buying weight loss drugs, including Wegovy, abroad without receiving the necessary “wraparound” care, doctors said. The British Medical Association’s annual meeting in Belfast heard there had been a “boom” in surgical tourism, which was “leading to a rise in serious post-surgery complications and deaths”. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 25 June 2024 -
Content Article
The original National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs) were published in 2015. In 2023 the standards were revised (NatSSIPs 2) with the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC), with a focus on bolstering of the organisational standards (people, processes and performance) in addition to the sequential steps that teams follow. The standards are intended to share the learning and best practice to support multidisciplinary teams and organisations to deliver safer care. Patient Safety Learning spoke to Annie Hunningher and Claire Morgan about the changes to the revised NatSSIPs 2, how NatSSIPs 2 is being implemented and what more needs to be done to promote and engage leadership for action. -
Content ArticleEmergency general surgery performed among patients aged over 65 years represents a particularly high-risk population. Transferring emergency surgery patients between hospitals has been linked to higher mortality, but its impact on outcomes in the geriatric population is uncertain. This study in Surgery aimed to explore the effect of transfer between hospitals on postoperative outcomes in older people who have emergency general surgery. The authors concluded that transferring patients between hospitals contributed to overall mortality and morbidity amongst geriatric emergency general surgery patients. They call for further investigation into improved coordination between hospitals, tailored care plans and comprehensive risk assessments, to help improve outcomes for older emergency surgery patients.
-
Event
Engagement with patient & public networks
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
untilThe Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) progresses a number of innovative and exciting collaborations with its patient facing partners since its origin in 2019. This webinar is designed to bring together lay and patient representation from both its Board and Advisory Group partners, as well as patient organisations and charities. The aim is to understand better the needs of patient and public engagement from a perioperative perspective. The webinar will include presentations from speakers investigating the Psychological and Behavioural science backgrounds of patients’ needs and wants, as well as patientvoices@RCOA. There will be an opportunity to develop these ideas in breakout groups to produce a consensus statement which CPOC will use to further develop the patient facing perioperative strategy. Considering the increasing waiting times that patients are having to process, while seeing their conditions potentially deteriorate, this is an opportunity to bring like-minded voices together to benefit patient outcomes within the UK. Further information -
News ArticlePatients with cancer and those needing emergency operations were among those who had their treatment cancelled this week due to a major cyberattack on NHS hospitals in London. More than 200 emergency and life-saving operations, including those which should be done within 24 hours, had to be cancelled by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust (GSTT) and King’s College University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It is not yet clear how long the disruption will last, however hospitals are concerned they will struggle if it continues for more than a few days. According to a source, Synnovis carries out tens of thousands of tests a day but is unable to do so as it cannot access systems. The Independent revealed: More than a third of procedures and operations have been cancelled, which includes over 3,000 non-surgical appointments and hundreds of patients who have been referred for urgent cancer diagnosis. Mothers waiting to have c-sections have also had their procedures cancelled and hospitals are investigating potential harm. Transplant operations have been cancelled and hospitals have had to reduce the number of people they’re able to book in. Read full story Source: The Independent, 10 June 2024
-
Content Article
5 steps to safer surgery audit tool
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Surgery
Shared with the hub, this audit tool is designed to assess theatre compliance with the five-steps to safer surgery, which includes the World Health Organisation (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist. The checks included in the five steps are designed to reduce the number of errors and complications resulting from surgical procedures by improving team communication and by verifying and checking essential care interventions. -
Content Article
Surgical Burns Action Group
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Preventing surgical burns
The Surgical Burns Action Group (SBAG) is a leading reference point for conversations around surgical burn and fire prevention. The SBAG consolidates clinical and patient support to remove the significant gaps in the NHS’ reporting of surgical burns, ensuring patients are properly informed on the risk of a fire, and clinicians on the necessary safety requirements. The SBAG website includes useful information and materials about surgical fires and burns. -
Content ArticleExample of two action cards used for incorrect swab count and incorrect instrument count.
-
Content ArticleFrom 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2019, NHS Resolution were notified of 631 clinical negligence claims relating to surgical burns to patients. Out of these 631 claims, 459 were settled, 58 were unmeritorious and 114 are still open. This has led to NHS Resolution paying £13.9m in damages and legal costs on behalf of NHS organisations.
-
Content ArticleThis multihospital prospective study in Surgery aimed to determine whether strict adherence to an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol leads to improvement in outcomes, compared with less strict compliance. The study looked at all consecutive anatomic lung resection patients on the thoracic enhanced recovery after surgery pathway from May 2021 to March 2023 and compared this cohort with a historical control from January 2019 to April 2021. The authors found that enhanced recovery after surgery protocols improve outcomes after anatomic lung resection, and that increasing compliance to individual elements further improves patient outcomes. They argue that continued efforts should be directed at increasing compliance to individual protocol elements.
-
Content ArticleThis study in Surgery aimed to assess the impact of presenting the STOPS framework (stop, talk to your team, obtain help, plan, succeed) on how surgeons cope in the operating room. It also looked at the related outcome of burnout and examined sex differences. The results suggest that there is evidence of efficacy in the STOPS framework—female surgeons who were presented this material reported higher levels of coping in the operating room compared to those who did not receive the framework. In addition, an increase in coping ability was associated with reduced levels of burnout for both genders.
-
Content Article
Action cards - Incorrect swab, instrument and suture counts
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Surgery
These action cards developed by Mark Rigby, Head of Theatre Services at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, contain a checklist of actions to be taken in the event of: incorrect swab count incorrect instrument count incorrect missing sutures or small metal items count -
Content Article
Five steps to safer surgery audit tool
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Surgery
This audit tool developed by Mark Rigby, Head of Theatre Services at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is designed to assess theatre compliance with the five steps to safer surgery, which includes the World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist. The checks included in the five steps are designed to reduce the number of errors and complications resulting from surgical procedures by improving team communication and by verifying and checking essential care interventions. The tool features a monthly observation audit and documentation audit and presents recorded data in a results tab which tracks progress by month, providing more timely data locally than the clinical scorecard. -
News Article
Hospital surgical teams with more women improve patient recovery, study finds
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
Hospital surgical teams that include more female doctors improve patient outcomes, lower the risk of serious complications and could in turn reduce healthcare costs, according to the world’s largest study of its kind. Studies show diversity is important in business, finance, tech, education and the law not only for equity but for output. However, evidence supporting the value of sex diversity in healthcare teams has been limited. Now researchers who examined more than 700,000 operations spanning a decade report that hospitals with more women in their surgical teams provide better outcomes for patients. The findings were published in the British Journal of Surgery. “Care in hospitals with greater anaesthesia-surgery team sex diversity was associated with better postoperative outcomes,” the researchers concluded. “The main takeaway for clinical practice and health policy is that increasing operating room teams’ sex diversity is not a question of representation or social justice, but an important part of optimising performance." Dr Julie Hallet, the lead author of the study at the University of Toronto, said, “These results are the start of an important shift in understanding the way in which diversity contributes to quality in perioperative care.” Read full story Source: Guardian, 15 May 2024 -
Event
Theatres & Decontamination Conference
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
- Posted
- 2 comments
-
-
Content Article
Never Events: The Big Debate
Patient-Safety-Learning posted an article in Patient safety in health and care
On Wednesday 1 May 2024, the National NatSSIPs Network hosted a webinar to discuss the NHS England consultation on the Never Events framework. The consultation is concerned with whether the existing framework is an effective mechanism to drive patient safety improvement. This blog gives an overview of the discussion at this webinar, which had over 200 participants.- Posted
- 1 comment
-
3
-
- (and 1 more)
-
Content ArticleThis systematic review and meta-analysis in JAMA Network Open investigated whether perioperative telemedicine can reduce the incidence of adverse events in abdominal surgery. The findings suggest that perioperative telemedicine is associated with reduced risk of readmissions and emergency department visits after abdominal surgery. However, the mechanisms of action for specific types of abdominal surgery are still largely unknown and warrant further research.
-
Event
National NatSSIPs Network
Patient Safety Learning posted an event in Community Calendar
untilNHS England is currently seeking views on whether the existing Never Events Framework remains an effective mechanism to drive patient safety improvement. Never Events are defined as patient safety incidents that are ‘wholly preventable because guidance or safety recommendations that provide strong systemic protective barriers are available at a national level and should have been implemented by all healthcare providers’. This webinar, hosted by the National NatSSIPs Network and supported by Patient Safety Learning, will feature a panel discussion on the Never Events framework and the proposals set out in this consultation. The National NatSSIPs Network is a group of healthcare professionals aiming to reduce the number of patient safety incidents related to invasive procedures. Speakers: Helen Hughes Dr Annie Hunningher Dr Sam Machen Claire Cox Guest Speaker Guest Speaker Register- Posted
- 1 comment
-
- (and 1 more)
-
News Article
NHSE intervenes over ‘fear and bullying’ in surgery department
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Nearly a dozen junior doctors have been relocated from a London hospital’s general surgery department by NHS England, after concerns about a culture of fear, poor support, and reports of bullying. NHSE has withdrawn 11 surgical foundation year trainees from Barnet Hospital, in north London, after a review uncovered concerns regarding staff behaviour and safety. The General Medical Council has opened a case into the hospital’s department, which is run by the Royal Free London Foundation Trust, and the trainees have been placed elsewhere in the trust. Colin Melville, the GMC’s medical director and director of education and standards, told HSJ: “Doctors in training in the department reported a culture of fear, worry, and feeling unsupported and unable to raise concerns in the appropriate manner. “There are also concerns over their supervision, bullying, and undermining behaviours in the department, as well as doctors’ physical and mental wellbeing. “Because of the [trust’s] failure to meet the high standards we require, we stand firmly with NHSE workforce, training, and education London’s decision to relocate the 11 trainees, [to] where they can work and learn in a supportive environment. “This action is necessary not only to ensure their safety, but to protect the public as well.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 18 April 2024 -
Content ArticleIn this blog, Peter Provonost MD, Chief Quality and Transformation Officer at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, offers advice about what patients and their families can do to prevent health risks associated with hospital stays. He looks ways to mitigate against medication errors, surgical errors, infections, blood clots and other medical complications.
-
Content ArticleWhen operating on a patient, a surgeon may put swabs (pieces of gauze that come in a range of types, shapes and sizes) into the patient’s body to absorb bodily fluids such as blood. The operating theatre team count the swabs in and out, using a process known as reconciliation, to ensure all swabs are accounted for at the end of the operation. However, sometimes a swab can be unintentionally retained (left inside a patient’s body). This type of patient safety incident is known as a ‘Never Event’ – that is, an event that NHS England considers to be wholly preventable. This report is intended for healthcare organisations, policymakers, and the public to help improve patient safety in relation to retained swabs following invasive procedures.
-
Community Post
Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) implants: Have you been affected?
Patient_Safety_Learning posted a topic in Medical devices (existing)
- (and 1 more)
In 2010, it emerged that implants manufactured by the French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) had been made with cheap silicone that had not been approved for cosmetic surgery, and had a high splitting rate. The French authorities closed PIP and the company's founder was convicted of aggravated fraud and imprisoned. Patient groups say there has been little support, recognition or information for those affected in the UK, and that thousands of women continue to experience health problems.[1] Have you had a PIP implant? What has your experience been? What could be done now to make sure those affected are supported? Please comment below (sign up here first, for free) or get in touch with the team at content@pslhub.org [1] Woman pays £11,000 to fix ruptured breast implant -
Content ArticleCurrently, surgical site infection surveillance relies on labour-intensive manual chart review. Recently suggested solutions involve machine learning to identify surgical site infections directly from the medical record. Deep learning is a form of machine learning that has historically performed better than traditional methods, while being harder to interpret. This study proposed a deep learning model—an explainable long short-term memory network—for the identification of surgical site infection from the medical record. The study found that the model had greater sensitivity when compared to traditional machine learning methods.
-
Content ArticlePeople with kidney failure or chronic kidney disease, whose kidneys have stopped working properly, may need dialysis. This therapy takes over the normal function of the kidneys and removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Many people have regular dialysis in hospital, where fluids are filtered by a machine (haemodialysis). In peritoneal dialysis, often carried out at home, a catheter is inserted in the abdomen and left there permanently. A catheter can be inserted under general anaesthetic by a surgeon, or without a general anaesthetic by a physician using a needle (medical insertion). Medical insertions have become more common in recent years due to a lack of access to surgeons and theatre space; they have the advantage of being possible in people who are not well enough to have a general anaesthetic. However, evidence on the safety and efficacy of medical insertions is lacking. This study assessed the number of safety events following catheter insertions for peritoneal dialysis via the medical and surgical route. Researchers explored the reasons for choosing medical, versus surgical catheter insertions.
-
News Article
Spire Healthcare: Death of NHS-funded private patient raises safety concerns
Patient_Safety_Learning posted a news article in News
A woman died when a major private healthcare provider failed to transfer her to NHS intensive care quickly enough after she became critically ill. Sabrina Khan said Spire Healthcare staff "should have known something was wrong" with her mother, Nafisa. The BBC also obtained testimony from doctors - contracted by the company to work up to 168 hours a week - who say long hours could put patients at risk. Spire Healthcare has apologised for failings in Nafisa Khan's care. The death of Mrs Khan from east London is one of several deaths following surgery at Spire Healthcare, looked at by BBC Panorama. Read full story Source: BBC News, 8 April 2024
