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Keep up to date with the latest news, research and activity in patient safety.

Puberty blocker trial will help reduce harm, says Cass report author

A trial examining the risks or benefits of drugs that can delay puberty for gender-questioning children will help reduce harm, according to the author of a landmark review.
Dr Hilary Cass said she was "absolutely convinced that more children will be harmed if we don't do the trial than if we do."
Her comments follow pressure from campaigners and some politicians to have the research programme scrapped after it was announced children as young as 11 could be recruited onto the trial.
The Pathways clinical trial will be run by researchers at Kings College, London (KCL). In addition to setting a minimum age, they have also increased the safeguards for participants.
The puberty blockers research was recommended by Dr Cass after her 2024 review of gender medicine for children pointed to weak evidence behind their use.
Speaking to the BBC, Dr Cass said she believes since then "some of the hype about risks have been exaggerated in that we genuinely don't know if there are harms."
And she said the trial was "essential" to answer the question about "whether these drugs are helpful or not".
She added that young people will be "closely monitored in every respect" and the drugs stopped if concerns emerge.
The researchers will examine the impact of the drugs on the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of participants. This will include checks on bone density, brain function and fertility.
Cass believes without a trial young people will continue to get drugs from "unregulated and dangerous routes."
Read full story
Source: BBC News, 22 June 2026
Patient Safety Learning

Judge advanced AI systems like doctors, says government review

Oversight of advanced AI systems capable of making autonomous decisions should “mirror” the assessment of healthcare professionals, a government commission has proposed.
The National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare has proposed that agentic AI systems, which can autonomously plan and execute tasks with limited human supervision, should be required to demonstrate capability over time before being allowed to undertake more complex work. 
The minutes to the commission’s latest meeting, seen by HSJ,  stated: “Commissioners advised that approaches to deploying AI systems should mirror that of human professional style progression.” This would involve AI agents needing “to demonstrate capability over time before being exposed to higher risk activities”.
The commissioners were responding to a discussion paper on agentic AI systems, “which explored regulatory approaches to oversee AI systems that are capable of autonomously planning and taking actions with limited human supervision”.
The paper proposed “a tiered regulatory framework, which uses levels of agent autonomy as a basis to determine what regulation and risk controls are required”.
The commissioners “welcomed the proposal for a tiered regulatory framework”, but suggested, “further work should be undertaken to identify other potential factors relevant to determine the appropriate level of regulation”. 
Read full story (paywalled)
Source: HSJ, 22 June 2026
Patient Safety Learning

National quality strategy facing ‘ministerial pushback’

Serious concerns have been raised that the delayed NHS “quality strategy” does not “prioritise patient safety”, HSJ has discovered.
The government’s 2025 10-Year Health Plan  stated “we will revitalise the National Quality Board (NQB) and task it with developing a new quality strategy”. The plan said the strategy would be published by March 2026, but this goal was missed, as was a second scheduled publication date soon after the May local elections. 
Minutes from the meeting obtained by HSJ reveal that NQB members “raised concerns” about the strategy’s lack of focus on patient safety and mental health. They also expressed a desire for the strategy to set “clearer expectations for providers”.
Read full article (paywalled).
Source: Health Service Journal, 23 June 2026
Related reading
In this blog, Patient Safety Learning and the Advancing Quality Alliance (Aqua) set out the need for safety to serve as a golden thread woven throughout the Strategy.
Mark Hughes

Ebola cases in Congo surpass 1,000 with 254 people dead, authorities say

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has now surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases, with officials reporting 254 deaths as of Sunday evening.
Congo’s Ministry of Health confirmed 1,003 cases and 100 recoveries since the epidemic was declared on 15 May in Ituri province.
Caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which no vaccines or treatments exist, this outbreak was the worst ever in its initial month. Officials admit more cases are likely unknown, and the peak is still ahead.
Contact tracing remains a key issue, with local authorities achieving only 55 per cent coverage.
The outbreak’s patient zero is yet to be identified, and over 35,000 contacts still require tracing, authorities confirmed.
Read full article.
Source: The Independent, 22 June 2026
Mark Hughes

Health minister apologises for 'evil' at Muckamore Abbey Hospital

The health minister has once again apologised for what he described as the "evil" perpetrated at Muckamore Abbey Hospital in County Antrim.
Speaking in the assembly, Mike Nesbitt said what happened was a " true scandal".
On Thursday, a long-awaited report into abuse at the hospital said a number of patients suffered physical abuse, including black eyes, broken bones, bruising and excessive restraint.
Nesbitt said the weight of evidence had provided a "watershed" moment for the treatment and care of the most vulnerable in society.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has said its Muckamore investigation is the biggest criminal adult safeguarding case of its kind in the UK.
In the assembly on Monday, Nesbitt said the report "helps us understand the failings of the past, and provides a road map for the work needed to address those issues".
But, he said, it was "vital that we now move forward as a health and social care system, and importantly as a society, into a safer, more inclusive and accepting future for those most vulnerable in our society".
Read full article.
Source: BBC News, 22 July 2026
Mark Hughes

‘Ham-fisted’ IT rollout ‘threatens service disruption’

NHS England is being warned that the planned rollout of a new “portal” for all NHS primary dental work could lead to widespread disruption.
The NHS Dental Services Portal is proposed as a new digital system for managing all NHS dental contract administration, including how dental activity is recorded, validated and paid. It is being rolled out to modernise an old, fragmented process, with the aim of improving efficiency, transparency, and consistency.
In an open letter sent to NHS Business Services Authority and NHSE, and shared with HSJ, the Dental Software Suppliers Association raised concerns about the speed of implementation being imposed.
Read full article (paywalled).
Source: Health Service Journal, 22 June 2026
Mark Hughes

NHS ‘can’t be sure more patients won’t be harmed’ at scandal-hit trust

NHS England has taken enforcement action against a major health trust over multiple safety concerns, warning that it cannot be sure more patients won’t be harmed.
The sanction means Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, in Greater Manchester, could be fined or lose its license to provide care if it does not improve.
It comes after a string of serious concerns were raised about patient safety, including in its gynaecological services, after an audit of hundreds of cases at Salford Royal Hospital in 2024 found dozens of women, including cancer patients, were “harmed” after their diagnosis and treatment were delayed due to admin failures.
Now, a damning document, seen by The Independent, reveals NHS England found the trust has been “unable to provide assurance” that it has a clear and consistent structure “that will ensure no further patients may suffer harm”.
Read full article.
Source: The Independent, 19 June 2026
Mark Hughes

Report on Nottingham NHS maternity scandal to reveal ‘horrendous’ failings

The report of the inquiry into the biggest maternity scandal in NHS history will outline “horrendous” failings in the care provided to women in Nottingham.
A catalogue of appalling behaviour over many years by staff at the city’s two hospitals – Queen’s Medical Centre and Nottingham City hospital – included racism towards mothers, it will say.
The NHS is bracing itself for the publication on Wednesday of a report by Donna Ockenden on 2,500 cases involving babies and mothers dying or being injured, and babies being stillborn, while under the care of Nottingham university hospitals NHS trust between 1 April 2012 and 31 May 2025.
The document will stretch to more than 350 pages. Ockenden, a senior midwife and expert in maternity care failings, began her inquiry into Nottingham more than four years ago, in May 2022. About 2,505 families – more than in any previous maternity scandal – and approximately 850 staff and ex-staff of the NHS trust have given evidence to it.
Read full article.
Source: The Guardian, 22 June 2026
Mark Hughes

AI's 'blind trust' problem puts patients at risk

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes deeply embedded in triage and clinical workflows, experts are raising concerns about a growing “blind trust” where clinicians and patients alike defer to algorithmic confidence over independent medical judgment.
Speaking at the HLTH Europe 2026 conference, panellists stressed that a person’s information ecosystem —who they follow on social media, the podcasts they listen to, and how they interact with AI — is becoming a dominant determinant of health outcomes. 
Speaking at the event, Patient Safety Learning’s Chief Digital Officer Clive Flashman defined blind trust in this new era as the moment a “clinician stops being able to think independently, independently judging what they see, feel, or hear, because the algorithm has told them something that they should believe or do.”
Read full article.
Source: Medscape, 21 June 2026
Mark Hughes

Vulnerable patients' lives made 'miserable' by abuse, Muckamore inquiry finds

A number of long-term patients at a hospital for vulnerable adults suffered physical abuse, including black eyes, broken bones, bruising and excessive restraint.
The long-awaited final report into the abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital has been published. Chaired by Tom Kark KC, the public inquiry ran for three years from June 2022, hearing oral evidence from 181 witnesses and more than 300 statements.
The report into what happened inside the hospital found "deviance" was so normalised that working below par became acceptable. It also makes it clear that abuse did not involve every patient nor every member of staff, nor a majority of the staff.
But many patients had their lives made "miserable" by systematic bullying by certain members of staff whose job it was to look after them.
Read full article.
Source: BBC News, 18 June 2026
Mark Hughes

Thousands could face ‘daunting’ surgery after patients with spine implant recalled for urgent x-rays

Thousands of people across the UK could face complex surgery to remove a spinal implant now linked to significant bone loss.
This alarming development follows the device's global withdrawal from sale and an urgent recall for patients to undergo X-rays.
The M6-C artificial disc implant was designed to replace damaged neck discs, offering an alternative to spinal fusion surgery, involving metal rods.
However, the implant has been associated with osteolysis – a progressive condition where bone tissue is destroyed and reabsorbed by the body.
Read full article.
Source: The Independent, 19 June 2026
Mark Hughes

Health minister apologises for NHSE error on FDP data access

Health innovation and safety minister Preet Kaur Gill has said she is “very sorry” after being questioned by MPs about NHS England’s handling of information provided to the National Data Guardian (NDG) on access to patient data within the Federated Data Platform (FDP).
Appearing before the Health and Social Care Committee on 16 June 2026, Gill was challenged over concerns that NHS England had incorrectly described who could access identifiable patient information within the FDP.
The concerns relate to NHS England documentation submitted to the NDG, which incorrectly described who could access identifiable patient data within parts of the FDP.
Martin Wrigley, MP for Newton Abbot, raised concerns about reports that identifiable patient data was flowing into the national FDP system and that Palantir engineers and others could obtain administrative access when required. Similar concerns were raised earlier this month by the NDG.
Read full article.
Source: Digital Health, 18 June 2026
Mark Hughes

Major concerns raised over safety and overcrowding at A&E unit

Concerns have been raised about patient safety at a hospital emergency department less than two years after it came out of special scrutiny for similar issues.
The unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire has been designated as needing significant improvements over issues including leadership, governance, culture and overcrowding following an inspection last month.
Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of the hospital's Betsi Cadwaladr health board, said it fully accepted the findings, which reflected "serious concerns".
One woman who said she witnessed an elderly patient die alone in the overcrowded unit with beds lining its corridors said the findings came as "no surprise" to her.
The hospital unit has been designated as a service requiring significant improvement (SRSI) following an unannounced inspection by regulatory body Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in May.
Alun Jones, HIW chief executive, said it was "very disappointing" that some of the previous problems had reoccurred since it left special scrutiny in 2024.
He said a full report will be published in September, but that issues included the concerns of staff who felt they "weren't listened to" when speaking up about safety issues.
Read full article.
Source: BBC News, 17 June 2026
Mark Hughes

Webinar programme for Clinical Audit Awareness Week 2026

A comprehensive programme of webinars has been unveiled for Clinical Audit Awareness Week 2026 (#CAAW26), including NHS England Chief Executive Sir James Mackey newly confirmed as a keynote speaker. 
Taking place from 22 to 26 June 2026, the annual campaign run by Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) promotes the role of clinical audit and evidence-based improvement in improving patient care and outcomes.  
The centrepiece of the campaign is a series of free, online webinars spanning five themed days, each examining a different dimension of clinical audit and healthcare improvement.  
Opening on Monday 22 June, the first session will explore how clinical audit supports major NHS strategic priorities, including the three shifts outlined in the NHS 10‑Year Plan towards prevention, community‑based care and greater use of data and digital tools.  Tuesday’s programme shifts the focus to patient and public involvement, with discussions on how engagement at local and national levels can address inequalities and improve outcomes, including a dedicated session on maternity care disparities.   Midweek, the spotlight turns to innovation and transformation, highlighting how emerging tools and technologies are reshaping audit and improvement practices across healthcare systems.   On Thursday, a webinar delivered in partnership with Patient Safety Learning will examine patient safety, demonstrating how robust audit data can identify risks, reduce harm and support safer care pathways.  The week concludes on Friday with a focus on data‑informed improvement and impact, exploring how evidence from audits and registries can be translated into tangible, real‑world changes in care delivery.  Across the week, sessions will also be complemented by daily announcements of the Excellence in Clinical Audit Awards, recognising achievements and best practice from across the sector. Winners will be presenting their projects to inspire others and share this excellent work. 
All webinars are free to attend, though advance registration is required. The programme is aimed at a wide audience, including clinicians, audit professionals, quality improvement specialists and healthcare leaders interested in leveraging data to improve care.  
By bringing together expertise from across the NHS and beyond, HQIP hopes the week will not only celebrate achievements but also build momentum for future improvement efforts. 
Discover the full programme, including the speakers and topics for each webinar: Clinical Audit Awareness Week, 22-26 June 2026 
Sam

Cancer doctor hiring freezes rise in nearly every region

Cancer centres in nearly every region of England reported significant rises in recruitment freezes to oncology posts over the past year, according to new figures shared with HSJ.
The Royal College of Radiologists’ president Stephen Harden warned that the growing constraints highlighted by the college’s research came at a time when cancer performance had stagnated – and that the NHS “desperately needed [more staff] to turn this round”.
An exclusive regional breakdown calculated by the RCR based on its annual oncology workforce census, and shared with HSJ, found every region apart from two reported rises in the number of centres implementing recruitment freezes for oncology posts in 2025.
The RCR’s Dr Harden said: “We completely get that we’re in a financially constrained environment but now is really not the time to be limiting recruitment to cancer posts, particularly around diagnosis and treatment.
“Extra staff are desperately needed to turn this thing around. Waiting a month for your scan results – and longer – is not really what we should be about”.
Read full story (paywalled)
Source: HSJ, 18 June 2026
Patient Safety Learning

NHS patients face worst drug shortages on record, say pharmacists and GPs

Britons are facing some of the “most severe” shortages of NHS medicines on record including common painkillers, epilepsy drugs and HRT, health leaders have warned, even forcing some patients with impaired digestive systems to skip meals.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned that medicine shortages pose a “serious risk to patient safety”.
The Royal College of GPs has also raised concerns about the impact medicine shortages have on patients, GPs and pharmacists.
Both have highlighted long-lasting supply issues affecting Estradot, a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal women, and Creon, a drug taken by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help them digest food.
Britons are facing some of the “most severe” shortages of NHS medicines on record including common painkillers, epilepsy drugs and HRT, health leaders have warned, even forcing some patients with impaired digestive systems to skip meals.
Olivier Picard, a pharmacist who chairs the NPA, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.”
“These shortages are some of the most severe the UK has experienced. It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”
He said shortages were “frustrating and worrying”, and that “in some instances they pose a serious risk to patient safety”.
Read full story
Source: The Guardian, 18 June 2026
Further reading on the hub:
Medicines shortages: minimising the impact on patients Creon shortages: “It’s just another thing patients with cystic fibrosis could do without” Medication supply issues: Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) Medication supply issues: A pharmacist’s perspective  
Patient Safety Learning
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