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

Ministers warned to plan for ‘exponential’ Covid infections in schools

Government experts have said the reopening of schools next month will likely trigger an exponential rise in Covid infections among children. According to members of SPI-M-O, the governments committee on on pandemic modelling, the removal of certain measures such as face masks, and the lack of vaccinations, may mean children will be susceptible to the virus. 
“Vaccines have amazingly weakened the link between infections and illness and hospitalisations, but not broken it. No one wants to reimpose restrictions but we face a challenging winter. I do believe we need an informed public debate on the options through 2021 and 2022. The infection is not going away, we have incredible tools (tests, treatment, vaccines). No one wants restrictions reimposed but we will have to accept some illness, hospitalisations and deaths.” Said Sage member and director of the Wellcome Trust, Sir Jeremy Farrar
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Source: The Independent, 28 August 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Covid Scotland: Patient numbers soar amid 'out of control' A&E crisis

New data has revealed the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is climbing rapidly, even before the latest surge in infections. These figures highlight the immense pressure the NHS is currently facing, and according to this data, there are now 585 people in hospital with the virus, up from 312 just eleven days ago, showing it to be the highest figure since early March.
Health Secretary Huma Yousaf said the situation in A&E is being closely monitored. "Hospitals are reporting increased levels of people attending A&E who are much sicker and require higher levels of care. Weekly performance is impacted due to a range of challenges including high attendances, staffing pressures due to isolation and annual leave and the continued requirement for infection control precautions that is affecting the time people need to spend in A&E."
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Source: The Herald, 01 September 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Life-saving cholesterol jab recommended on NHS

An expensive anti-cholesterol drug called inclisiran could soon be offered to hundreds of thousands of people in England and Wales on the NHS. The drug, which would be administered as a twice-a-year injection, costs around £2,000 per dose, could save about 30,000 lives within a decade.
"Inclisiran represents a potential game-changer in preventing thousands of people from dying prematurely from heart attacks and strokes. We're therefore pleased to be able to recommend it as a cost effective option on the NHS." Said Meindert Boysen, NICE deputy chief executive and director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation. 
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Source: BBC News, 01 September 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Work stress could be triggering troubling surge in women ‘suffering heart disease warning signs’

A new study has found stress in the workplace could be leading women suffering from warning signs of heart disease. These signs included work-related stress, sleep disorders, and tiredness - which are important but non-traditional risk factors for having a heart attack or a stroke.
Dr Wagner, a neurology professor at the University of Zurich, said "Traditionally men have been perceived to be more affected by heart attacks and strokes than women, but in some countries, women have overtaken men. There is a gender gap and further research is needed to find out why”.
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Source: The Independent, 31 August 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

New Naloxone campaign tries to reduce deaths from drug overdoses

A new campaign to increase awareness of life-saving treatment that can reverse drug overdoses has been launched in Scotland.
The Scottish government and Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) have joined together to help improve information about naloxone which can prevent deaths in the case of opioids overdoses.
Drugs policy minister Angela Constance said: “Firstly, on International Overdose Awareness Day I want to pass on my sincere condolences to all those who have been affected by a drug-related death. That is why I am pleased to launch this joint campaign with Scottish Drugs Forum to encourage the public to get involved in our national mission and equip themselves to save a life."
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Source: The Independent, 31 August 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Large-scale GP group says its doctors routinely have ‘unsafe’ workload

The Modality Partnership, one of England's biggest general practice groups told HSJ that its GPs are regularly seeing more patients each day than is safe, after the number of people going to see their GP surged in the wake of Covid-19.
Data has shown the provider’s GPs had an average of 20 patient contacts per day during April 2020, which has now risen to to an average of nearly 50 patient contacts per day. Modality, which had drawn up a report on the situation were quoted as saying, "There is just so much to cover – I am worried about missing something.” 
One partner at Modality who is also quoted in the report said: “An increasing number of patients I see are broken, often in tears, and seeking help to cope with the new stresses of life.”
Read full story (paywalled).
Source: HSJ, 31 August 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Warning over cuts to NHS services without £10bn extra funding

Groups representing the NHS have warned services may have to be cut unless NHS England receives an extra £10bn in funding next year, which may put patients at risk. 
The NHS Confederation and NHS Providers said the money was needed to cover pandemic-related costs and reduce the backlog in operations and treatments, but the government said it had already provided additional money to tackle backlogs.
"We are committed to making sure the NHS has everything it needs to continue providing excellent care to the public as we tackle the backlogs that have built up during the pandemic. This year alone we have already provided a further £29bn to support health and care services, including an extra £1bn to tackle the backlog. This is on top of our historic settlement for the NHS in 2018, which will see its budget rise by £33.9bn by 2023-24." Said a government statement. 
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Source: BBC News, 02 August 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Long Covid in children 'nowhere near scale feared'

Experts have said the risk of "long Covid" in children is much lower than many had feared, with research suggesting somewhere between 2% and 14% still had symptoms caused by Covid 15 weeks later.
However, while the research team found little evidence to showing huge number seeking help for symptoms that had left them bedridden or unable to attend school, it was still important that they received support if they had any persistent symptoms such as headaches, tiredness and breathing difficulties. 
Prof Sir Terence Stephenson, from UCL's Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, said of the development of Long Covid in children, "It is nowhere near what people thought in the worst-case scenario".
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Source: BBC News, 01 September 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

COVID-19: Children must return to 'normal pre-pandemic experience' in schools, education secretary says

Gavin Williamson, despite the risk of Covid, has insisted children must return to a "normal pre-pandemic" experience in schools. The education secretary said testing could be the key to guarding against infection rates, but refused to rule out a potential rise after experts have warned surges in Covid-19 are linked to classrooms. 
"This is why we're doing the testing programme and we're encouraging children to take part in it, parents, and of course teachers and support staff as well. This is a way of rooting out Covid. We're trying to strike that constant, sensible balance of actually giving children as normal experience in the classroom as possible, but also recognising we're still dealing with a global pandemic." He told Niall Paterson. 
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Source: Sky News, 02 September 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

NHSE funding policy risks ‘levelling down’ maternity safety, warns hospital chief

Glen Burley, an acute trust chief executive has said NHS England risks ‘levelling down’ safety in some maternity services by ‘disproportionately’ directing additional funding to struggling trusts.
This comes after NHS England said the funding prioritised the trusts which needed the most support to meet the essential actions in the Ockenden Report, where in March, NHSE invited trusts to bid for a share of £96m extra funding for maternity services. 
A spokeswoman for NHS England has said: “The NHS made an additional £96m investment in maternity services following the Ockenden Review, the majority of which will bolster the workforce by funding an additional 1,200 midwives and 100 obstetricians. While the funding for additional workforce is for all NHS trusts, it is right that those who most need the support are prioritised.”
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Source: HSJ, 02 September 2021
 
Patient-Safety-Learning

National Insurance: Minister says social care must be properly funded amid tax hike claims

According to reports, the government plans to raise national insurance of at least 1% to help improve social care and tackle NHS backlog. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has said the government must find a way for social care to be adequately funded. 
Labour has said the NHS and social care needed proper investment but it was wrong to raise national insurance, which would disproportionately affect people on low incomes, young people and businesses.
"Boris Johnson still hasn't come forward with the plan for social care he promised over two years ago, and instead they're proposing a manifesto-breaking tax rise that would hit working people and businesses hard," said shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Bridget Phillipson.
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Source: BBC News, 03 September 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Covid: Schools aren't infection hubs, says public health boss

Public Health England's medical director has said schools are not "drivers" or "hubs" of Covid infection.
"We understand, and I understand fully, that parents may be nervous but I would stress again that schools are not the drivers and not the hubs of infection." Said Dr Yvonne Doyle.
However, Prof Calum Semple, a government scientific adviser, said with most adults vaccinated, schools were likely to be a "greater part of the problem"
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Source: BBC News, 02 September 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

There is no greater priority for the Royal College of Nursing than the safety, security and wellbeing of its members and staff.

The RCN has today launched a new independent and confidential help and support line for any members or staff who have been affected by the issues relating to the reports received.  
Pat Cullen, General Secretary and Chief Executive, said: "Anyone can be affected by sexual harassment. It’s not restricted to any gender, age, ethnicity, sexuality or role. If you have been affected, it is important that you are listened to, supported, and helped to work through any actions you wish to take. This 0800 number will allow members or staff to discuss any concerns about sexual harassment related to RCN activity. 

“All staff and members have a right to feel safe and we are taking all necessary steps to provide that security. We must tackle the issues and behaviours that have no place in our College. We must demand better, for members and for the profession.”  
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Source: RCN, 02 September 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Private ambulance firm deregistered by CQC

A private ambulance company, KFA Medical,  which provided patient transport services for the NHS has been deregistered by the Care Quality Commission over concerns for patient safety. Concerns included lack of basic training and Disclosure and Barring Service checks on employees were not up to date or had not been carried out and when looking at four staff files none had current basic life support training.
Sarah Dronsfield, the CQC’s head of hospital inspection, said: “We have been working with the provider since their suspension in January, however when we carried out this inspection, we found the provider had been unable to implement and sustain the necessary improvements to assure us that people were receiving safe care. This action should send a very clear message to all providers of independent health and care services that while taking enforcement action of this nature is not something we take lightly, we will always take action where appropriate to protect the health and safety of patients,” 
Read full story (paywalled).
Source: 03 September 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Police raised multiple concerns to regulator about hospital

Police raised concerns to the Care Quality Commission over the care at a private hospital, run by Cygnet Health Care, after being called eight times by a patient, a report has revealed.
The CQC has now placed the hospital, which provides care for female patients with learning difficulties, in special measures and rated it inadequate.
The CQC report, published today, said: “Staff we spoke with said they were trained in how to use de-escalation techniques. However, two told us they were anxious as a team about using restraint. As a result, police were being regularly called to respond to incidents at the hospital by both staff and patients.”
Read full story (paywalled).
Source: HSJ, 02 September 2021
Patient-Safety-Learning

Top doctor’s family call for probe into ambulance delays on day he died of cardiac arrest

The family of a senior medic and lifelong NHS campaigner have called for an investigation into his death as it took paramedics more than half an hour to arrive at his home after operators were told he was suffering a cardiac arrest.
Professor Kailash Chand, a former British Medical Association deputy chair, had complained of chest pains before one of his neighbours, a consultant anaesthetist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, called 111 for help before telling the call handler within three minutes that he believed his friend was having a cardiac arrest.
“I was answering their questions when Kailash’s eyes began rolling and he slipped into unconsciousness. That’s when I said ‘this looks like a cardiac arrest’ and to upgrade the call. They kept asking questions as I started CPR and asked for an urgent ambulance. That was two or two and a half minutes into the call."
Evidence seen by i News shows that it took another 30 minutes after the neighbour told the operator about the cardiac arrest for the paramedics to arrive at Professor Chand’s flat in Didsbury, Greater Manchester.
National standards for ambulance trusts show that ambulance trusts must respond to category 1 calls – those that are classified as life-threatening and needing immediate intervention and/or resuscitation, such as cardiac or respiratory arrest – in 7 minutes on average, and respond to 90% of Category 1 calls in 15 minutes.
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Source: iNews, 3 September 2021
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