University Hospitals Birmingham NHS FT (UHB) oversight report of phase 1 , 2 and 3 reviews "Bewick 2" (IQ4U, 30 June 2023)

Summary

A number of serious concerns were raised about the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, relating to patient safety, governance processes and organisational culture. The Trust has been under review by the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB), following a junior doctor at the trust, Dr Vaishnavi Kumar, taking her own life in June 2022.

In response to these concerns, a series of rapid independently-led reviews have been commissioned at the Trust. 

A follow up report into concerns raised about University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has now been published showing the progress made against the recommendations made in the clinical safety (phase 1) report. It also collates the evidence from phase 2 and 3 of the review and assesses how the lessons learned can at this point be incorporated into the recovery and development plan that the Trust is already progressing. It also takes account of any other concerns that have arisen or been communicated to the review team.

Content

The phase 1 review highlighted four areas for improvement:

• clinical safety
• governance and leadership
• staff welfare
• culture.

Appendices 1-4 of the report map the specific recommendations with progress so far.

• Appendix 1 – Patient Safety Review (Mike Bewick and team – phase 1) recommendations implementation plan: April 2023
• Appendix 2 – Summary of the Culture Review by The Value Circle
• Appendix 3 – Well Led Diagnostic by NHS England
• Appendix 4 – UHB’s response to the Phase 1 recommendations