NHS Wales - Interim learning report: National Nosocomial COVID-19 Programme (29 March 2023)

Summary

NHS Wales has published a new report detailing the good progress being made to investigate and learn from hospital-acquired COVID-19 in Wales.

Established in April 2022, the National Nosocomial COVID-19 Programme is supporting NHS Wales organisations to carry out a review of nosocomial (hospital acquired) COVID-19 patient safety incidents that occurred between March 2020 and April 2022. The programme has prioritised the investigation of the most complex cases, with an aim to provide as many answers as possible for service users, families, carers and staff impacted by nosocomial COVID-19. The programme also aims to maximise learning opportunities across NHS Wales, to drive quality and safety improvements.

Content

Due to the scale of the pandemic, despite being in a healthcare setting, patients in hospital and other in-patient settings faced an increased risk of hospital acquired COVID-19.

In its first year, the programme has supported NHS Wales organisations to assess and investigate over 5,000 cases of nosocomial COVID-19, where they meet the definition of a patient safety incident and is on track to have successfully investigated all cases of hospital-acquired COVID-19 by March 2024.

Findings in the report include;

• The value of bereavement support and care-after-death services have for people experiencing grief and signposting to support at the earliest opportunity.
• The benefits of a single point of contact and support for people navigating the concerns process.
• The impact of visiting restrictions and visiting considerations should continue to be carefully balanced with risk.
• Inequities in the concerns process for people who receive healthcare via independent providers.
• Inconsistent approaches to the management and reporting of health care acquired infections across Wales.The need for improved application and improvement of DNACPR (Do Not Attempt Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation.
• The need for improvement in how Infection prevention and control (IP&C) guidance, is reviewed and communicated to staff.
• Better communication with families and carers around ward movements.