Jump to content
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4,730

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Patient-Safety-Learning

PSL Moderators

 Content Type 

News posted by Patient-Safety-Learning

  1. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New figures show a record number of 5.45 million people are waiting for NHS hospital treatment in England, with many more joining the waiting list who also need treatment, and those who came back to the NHS for healthcare having not done so during the worst periods of the pandemic.
    Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary has said, "We estimate there's probably some seven million people that ordinarily would have come forward to the NHS that stayed away, understandably, during the height of the pandemic. We want those people to come back. I don't know how many will come back but, even if half of them came to the NHS - and can I just stress I really want people that need to be seen by the NHS to know the NHS is there for them and they should come forward - but as they do I think waiting lists will rise because there will be a huge increase in demand." 
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 12 August 2021
  2. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Nursing and maternity staff have reported that they are unable to have water with them whilst working, meaning some are unable to drink water for 12 hours due to work pressures.
    The Royal College of Midwives in updated guidance are calling for "common sense" from NHS trusts and boards on staff access to water and other drinks, particularly as staff are having to wear more PPE than before the pandemic began. 
    Dr Mary Ross-Davie, director for professional midwifery at the RCM, said: “Some trusts and boards have banned water bottles in clinical areas, which means that our members are often going 12 hours with no break and no water. We are appealing to those services to apply common sense, to recognise that this application of infection control is misguided and to look after the health and wellbeing of their staff.”
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: Nursing Times, 11 August 2021
  3. Patient-Safety-Learning
    According to the state's health watchdog Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), six out of 10 hospitals inspected last year were non-compliant with aspects of infection-control procedures against Covid-19. 
    Recurring issues such as poor physical infrastructure, capacity issues and workforce challenges were found to hinder efforts to cope with the pandemic, and despite investments, issues around infrastructure and capacity have been worsened by the pandemic.  
    “In most instances, we found an effective approach to adapt to this unprecedented crisis in hospitals. However, hospitals’ efforts were made more difficult due to underlying historic problems with infrastructure, limited bed capacity and unequal or limited access to specialist workforce input and advice – problems that Hiqa’s prior monitoring work against national standards has consistently highlighted.”  said Hiqa’s director of regulation, Mary Dunnion.
    Read full story.
    Source: Irish Times, 10 August 2021
  4. Patient-Safety-Learning
    According to leaked figures, the number of patients ready to be medically discharged has been rising since the spring and is now higher than the winter, but levels are believed to still be substantially lower than pre-covid. These figures come after reports hospitals are facing increased pressure to free up beds for incoming patients. 
    David Oliver, consultant geriatrician and former national clinical director for older people, has said "Thanks to additional funding and capacity in community health and social care services, fantastic collaborative working across systems and new rules and permissions, and innovative service models, we saw far fewer delays and far slicker discharge for patients needing ongoing support outside hospital. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t sustainable. Both in my local experience and speaking to colleagues from around the country, we are now back to pre-pandemic levels of delays and worse. This is bad for patients, leaving them stranded in hospital when they’d be better off in their own home and other settings and bad for other patients needing hospital care, including those on waiting lists, as flow through acute beds is impaired."
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: HSJ, 11 August 2021
  5. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A report published today has revealed the creation of single regional boards to commission ambulance services is under discussion with NHS England and Improvement.
    According to the report titled Rapid response: the role of the ambulance sector in transforming services and coping with the long-term impact of covid-19, ambulance trusts are to be involved in regional, integrated care system and place-level decision-making to maximise their contribution to more integrated services has also been called for. 
    NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson and Association of Ambulance Chief Executives chair Daren Mochrie said: “As well as providing mobile treatment services, ambulance trusts have the potential to be an absolutely crucial co-ordinator on the urgent and emergency care pathway. We think there is a real opportunity there that is being missed."
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: HSJ, 12 August 2021
  6. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A new BBC report has found ambulance crews are unable to respond to calls quickly due to the pressure on hospitals to find free beds. Some paramedics are even spending most of their 12 hour shift waiting in the back of their ambulance, waiting to be called. 
    "We know there are people in the community that are screaming out for an ambulance, but as you can see, a lot of ambulances are waiting here. It never ever used to be like this. We used to bring poorly patients in, and we were out on the road again in 15 minutes. We could do 10 jobs a shift, today we've done two. It's so demoralising" Paramedic Osian Roberts has said. 
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 11 August 2021
  7. Patient-Safety-Learning
    According to NHSE guidance today, non-essential blood tests should be stopped and GPs should prioritise genomic tests over others. Vitamin D testing should also be stopped in all, but "exceptional circumstances" amid shortages in the blood collection tube stocks. 
    The guidance, issued by the NHSE has advised genomics for testing of unwell neonates, prenatal screening and cancer diagnoses are “a high priority". NHSE have also said changes to testing “should be made in consultation with individual patients” and that “it is important to make clear that routine tests will be deferred only where it is clinically safe to do so”.
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: HSJ, 10 August 2021
  8. Patient-Safety-Learning
    According to new data, those sick with Covid-19 are a decade younger than previous waves, with analysis showing the average age of among 2,889 patients admitted to ICU since May was 49, compared to 59 in the previous surges. However, this has been put down to the effects of vaccine programme as older adults were prioritised. 
    Reports have also found hundreds of critically ill patients are having to be moved between hospitals due to the need to remove pressure on beds. 
    The chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, said: “Trusts’ experience of Covid-19 has strongly confirmed what we already knew: that the NHS is significantly short of intensive care capacity, both beds and staff. The level of ICU transfers over the last few months, to alleviate pressures in a number of different hospitals, further confirms that."
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 10 August 2021
  9. Patient-Safety-Learning
    The Care Quality Commission has closed mental health hospital, Eldertree Lodge, in Staffordshire after inspectors saw evidence of patients being abused.
    The hospital, which looked after 40 adults with learning disabilities and autism, was found to have unprofessional and abusive staff members, with incidents being recorded on CCTV where staff slammed doors on patients. Staff were also found to pull or drag a patient in an attempt to move them to a ward seclusion room.
    Commenting on the latest report, Debbie Ivanova, CQC deputy chief inspector for people with a learning disability and autistic people, said, “In some cases, people were subjected to abuse and interactions that lacked compassion, dignity or respect. This is unacceptable and people deserved better. Additionally, the environment was unhygienic and poorly maintained, as well as blighted by blind spots, which undermined staff observation of patients.
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 11 August 2021
  10. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A report has concluded that significant failings by hospital staff led to the avoidable suffering of Ann Jones, 69, who had bowl cancer, before she died.
    During their investigation, the Public Services Ombudsman found complications after surgery were not properly identified and weight loss was blamed on psychological factors rather than the pain of a bowel obstruction. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has apologised to Mrs Jones' family.
    Denbighshire council have also said they were "sincerely sorry" for the distress caused to the family and have issued a written apology to her husband.
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 10 August 2021
  11. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Sources have indicated that with staff shortages, including doctors who work in the NHS, in some areas the private sector is prioritising patients who are insured or self-paying, according to the HSJ. 
    A report from the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group has said that the health system was aiming to use the independent sector to reduce waiting lists, however, there are staff limitations there as well, meaning they have to reduce the amount of capacity they could provide to the NHS.
    “Amongst a range of initiatives, the Dorset healthcare system is increasing the use of independent providers to help reduce waiting lists, however in common with other providers they are facing their own limitations in terms of capacity and staffing.” A spokesman for the CCG has said. 
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: HSJ, 10 August 2021
  12. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New data has revealed as many as 14 million people could be on NHS waiting lists in England by the autumn of 2022 unless action is taken now to avoid this outcome. 
    The Royal College of Nursing has confirmed these latest figures confirmed the “immense task that lies ahead” for the profession saying that more investment is needed to help tackle the waiting list crisis. 
    In response to the analysis, Patricia Marquis, RCN England director, said: “These figures confirm the immense task that lies ahead for health and care services in recovering from the pandemic.”
    Read full story.
    Source: Nursing Times, 9 August 2021
  13. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New research has emerged that may be able to diagnose dementia after a single brain scan. 
    Scientists have begun testing a new artificial intelligence system that could identify the condition and predict predict whether it will remain stable for many years, slowly deteriorate or need immediate treatment.  
    Prof Zoe Kourtzi, of Cambridge University and a fellow of national centre for AI and data science The Alan Turing Institute, said "If we intervene early, the treatments can kick in early and slow down the progression of the disease and at the same time avoid more damage". 
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 10 August 2021
  14. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A national shortage in blood collection tubes has meant trusts are having to limit blood tests, with some trusts advising doctors to only order blood tests if they deem it absolutely necessary or using the same tubes for different tests rather than using a different tube of blood for each test.
    It has also been reported that the global disruption to the supply chain may mean shortages could continue before the supply lines recover. The NHS Supply Chain, has said there was “some improvement in the supply position in September” but that controls on the products "are likely to continue to be applied beyond this until supply stabilises”.
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: HSJ, 9 August 2021
  15. Patient-Safety-Learning
    After an unannounced inspection at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust in June, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found an “emergency c-section was being performed without the correct equipment available to monitor the mother”. According to reports, the inspectors stepped in immediately to raise concerns, which was then corrected straight away.
    In a letter to the trust, the CQC wrote, “Overall, we were concerned that the safety culture in the service was underdeveloped. There were no dedicated maternity safety huddles in line with national guidance. Handovers doubled up as safety huddles. During our observations of handovers, we saw that staff did not discuss safety issues and the format was not safety focused.” 
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: HSJ, 6 August 2021
  16. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Health leaders have warned the public may be at more risk amid plans to simplify nursing training across the UK. Nursing leaders have also come out in opposition of the proposals by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) saying bosses could not be sure that the nurses they hired would have the skills required to care patients' safely.
    Matthew Winn, chief executive of Cambridgeshire Community Services Trust, said "The changes being proposed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council will lead to a watering down of the educational and training standards of these specialist professionals. If courses are developed unilaterally by universities, as an employer I will have no idea if the district nurse is competent to undertake the role I am recruiting them to do.”
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 08 August 2021
  17. Patient-Safety-Learning
    According to the British Heart Foundation, it may take up to five years for cardiac services to return to pre-Covid levels. This warning comes after it was revealed nearly 14 million people could be on NHS waiting lists in England by next autumn.
    "Tragically, we have already seen thousands of extra deaths from heart and circulatory diseases during the pandemic, and delays to care have likely contributed to this terrible toll. At this critical moment, the government must act now to avoid more lives lost to treatable heart conditions. Addressing the growing heart care backlog is only the start," says Prof Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation. 
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 9 August 2021
  18. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New figures has revealed serious incidents have occurred in NHS trusts where the wrong bodies of patients were released to families or lost, damaged or kept the organs or bodies of babies without family permission. According to data from the Human Tissue Authority, these incidents have reduced over the years, however, the errors still affected more than 100 families in the latest year to March 2021.
    Incidents such as these are extremely distressing for the friends and family of the deceased patient, but also for the staff working in the mortuaries involved, who try their best to uphold the highest standards of patient care in often difficult circumstances. The fact that the mortuary profession is not a profession regulated by statute – as other professions such as laboratory staff and paramedics are – makes the maintenance of these quality standards more difficult than it needs to be." Said John Pitchers, chair of the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 8 August 2021
  19. Patient-Safety-Learning
    According to data shared with HSJ, the amount of NHS staff taking time off for their mental health has leapt in the past few months. The data, collected by FirstCare and covering 46,000 NHS staff from nine trusts, showed mental health absences from May to June of this year was at least 20 per cent up on April and 35 per cent up on February with more than 40 per cent up on the same months last year. 
    “Trust leaders remain acutely aware of the impact that the pandemic, coupled with existing NHS pressures, is having on the workforce. They are deeply concerned about their staff’s mental health and wellbeing and are doing what they can to look after their staff, but they cannot do this sustainably without a fully costed and funded multi-year workforce plan.” Said NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson. 
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: HSJ, 6 August 2021
  20. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A new report has found tens of thousands of children are suffering from Long Covid, with experts worried children will be left vulnerable if the vaccine roll-out does not expand to include the 12-15 year old age group. Experts have also warned herd immunity cannot be achieved without the young people taking the jab. 
    "There is no time to waste in getting on with this. We could have had all of this age group [16- and 17-year-olds] vaccinated before September." Said Dr Deepti Gurdasani, an epidemiologist at Queen Mary University London. 
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 6 August 2021
  21. Patient-Safety-Learning
    The president of the Intensive Care Society has warned despite the fall in Covid cases, intensive care units in hospitals remain under substantial pressure, with Stephen Webb, a consultant in intensive care and deputy medical director at the Royal Papworth Hospital Trust, describing the situation as "grim".
    “Cases of Covid infections are coming down but that’s not having much of an impact on hospitals and on intensive care units yet. The situation in ICUs is pretty grim at the moment and it’s grim for a completely different reasons from wave one and two of the pandemic.” Dr Webb told The Independent.
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 5 August 2021
  22. Patient-Safety-Learning
    The Care Quality Commission have increased the safety rating for the William Harvey Hospital, in Kent, from 'inadequate' to 'requires improvement'. This comes after the hospital was hit with a safety scandal after staff and members of the public raised concerns about a lack of infection control amid outbreaks of Covid-19.
    “I am pleased to report that since our last inspection, leaders have worked hard to improve infection control practices in the medical care services departments at both hospitals, although some improvements still need to be fully embedded, particularly at William Harvey Hospital. We also found that there was a positive culture in the service across both hospitals, and staff felt empowered to report incidents. These were fully investigated by managers and, importantly, learnings were shared with the wider team.” Amanda Williams, CQC’s head of hospital inspection has said. 
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 5 August 2021
  23. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Gateshead Health NHS Trust in the north-east of England are the first NHS body in the UK to manufacture its own protective face masks. This move comes after Filtering Face Piece 3 masks (FFP3), which are used widely in hospitals, were in short supply early in the pandemic. 
    "It's taken us a lot of hard work and investment to get to this stage. Every part and stage has had to be precision-engineered to make sure that these masks meet the standard and are effective at filtration." Said Managing director Anthony Robson. 
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 6 August 2021
  24. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Concerns have been raised amid allegations that hospital managers have told minority ethnic staff to adopt 'Western work names' as their original names were 'too difficult to pronounce'.
    In a letter from the Care Quality Commission, published in the trust's July board papers, workers at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston Foundation Trust told inspectors about their experiences during an unannounced visit in June. 
    “This is not acceptable, individuals can only truly thrive in a work environment where they feel safe as themselves and belong rather than having to ‘fit in’.” Wrote the CQC’s head of hospital inspections Amanda Williams. 
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: HSJ, 4 August 2021
  25. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New research examining severe harm incidents and deaths in NHS hospitals has been published today in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. The research, looking at more than 370 incidents has highlighted the risks to patients from fragmented care on busy wards and shortages of staff.
    According to the findings, “errors occurred due to a lack of clarity regarding responsibilities for patient care coordination, especially during emergency situations or out of hours. Poor documentation of long-term management plans and no reliable review system to ensure follow-up by the most appropriate teams contributed,” with researchers also saying many of the errors in medication happened more often overnight due to a lack of out-of-hours pharmacy support. 
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 5 August 2021

© 2026 Patient Safety Learning. All rights reserved.

Patient Safety Learning is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission Registration number 1180689.

×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.