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Patient-Safety-Learning

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News posted by Patient-Safety-Learning

  1. Patient-Safety-Learning
    An NHS consultant has told The Guardian "I work in an NHS Covid ward – and I feel so angry".
    Providing a first hand account of their experiences working on an NHS Covid ward, the consultant, who wishes to remain anonymous, has expressed their dismay at the rise in cases, the spread of misinformation and the exhaustion felt among staff members dealing with work place stress and mental illness. 
    Read full story.
    Source: The Guardian, 19 July 2021
  2. Patient-Safety-Learning
    The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has called for in-person learning to be prioritised and for schools to prepare to address the mental health needs of their students. 
    The AAP has also urged all who are eligible to get vaccinated, to do so, and recommends a layered approach in making schools safe for all such as wearing masks even if vaccinated. 
    Sonja O’Leary, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Council on School Health has said “We need to prioritize getting children back into schools alongside their friends and their teachers -- and we all play a role in making sure it happens safely”. 
    Read full story.
    Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, 19 July 2021
  3. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Multiple issues have been found after a review into Veteran Affairs (VA) electronic system revealed outstanding issues. 
    VA Secretary Denis McDonough has said "The mission of EHRM has always been to create a platform that seamlessly delivers the best access and outcomes for our vets and the best experience for our providers". 
    The review found problems in several areas including: patient safety, productivity, governance and management, cost and schedule performance, patient portal experience, testing, data and change management and training. 
    McDonough has said steps are being taken to address each of these issues and that VA is "reimagining our approach to Electronic Health Record Modernization."
    Read full story.
    Source: Healthcare IT News, 19 July 2021
  4. Patient-Safety-Learning
    WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove wrote in her notebook before a keynote address "the world needs a reality check" after becoming increasingly concerned about the rise in coronavirus infections. 
    Reports have found Covd-19 has been rising rapidly in places where there has been a low vaccine uptake and it has been confirmed the delta variant is the most transmissible than earlier strains. However, despite this, there has been a lack of social distancing and mask wearing from the public. 
    “We’re getting further away from the end than we should be. We’re in a bad place right now globally,” Van Kerkhove has said.
    Read full story.
    Source: The Washington Post, 17 July 2021
  5. Patient-Safety-Learning
    UCLH has been awarded £6.8m to conduct what has been regarded as the largest Long Covid clinical study and will focus on understanding the condition, how to diagnose it, manage it and improve the recovery process. 
    The research will be a collaborative effort and will include 30 researchers, health professionals, patients and industry partners from more than 30 organisations and the project will be known as TIMULATE-ICP (Symptoms, Trajectory, Inequalities and Management: Understanding Long-Covid to Address and Transform Existing Integrated Care Pathways).
    Read full story.
    Source: National Health Executive, 19 July 2021
  6. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Some frontline NHS staff who have been double vaccinated may be allowed to continue working even if they are exposed to someone who has Covid-19.
    This decision comes after concerns were raised regarding staff shortages and where absences could result in "significant harm".
    Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said: "As we learn to live with this virus, it's important that we ensure frontline staff can keep providing the best possible care and support to people up and down the country. These new rules will fortify our collective defences against this awful virus, by allowing fully vaccinated frontline NHS and social care staff to continue to work when needed."
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 19 July 2021
  7. Patient-Safety-Learning
    It has been announced that the UK is set to launch 15 new research programs to study 'Long Covid', allocating nearly 20 million pounds to the projects. 
    The research programs are aiming to understand the condition better as well as identify it and evaluate different treatments. 
    The Department for Health and Social Care have said, "Those people who have long COVID will benefit from the latest  research revealed, which will help to understand the condition better, improve diagnosis and find new treatments."
    Read full story.
    Source: The Day Chronicle, 18 July 2021
  8. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Now, almost two years after a consultation on inquests into stillbirths was delivered, the government has yet to respond. 
    It has recently been reported by MPs that 1,000 babies die preventable deaths each year due to understaffing and a culture of blame among the maternity ward workforce. 
    However, despite pressure from campaigners and a promise by the government that a response would come in September 2019, it is yet to be published. 
    The Department for Health and Social Care has told Byline Times, “work on analysing the responses to the consultation on coronial investigations of stillbirths has been delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
    Read full story.
    Source: Byline Times, 14 July 2021
  9. Patient-Safety-Learning
    £140m that was spent on developing ventilators has been written off by ministers. According to the Observer, the ventilators were never put to use in the NHS in the months after the pandemic began. 
    The 'ventilator challenge' was launched to help provide more machines where needed, however problems began early last year when companies complained their expertise was not being used, while others who had no relevant experience of building ventilators, were asked to do so. 
    A government spokesperson has said: “Throughout the pandemic, we have done whatever it takes to protect the NHS and save lives. This included launching the ventilator challenge, which saw more than 15,000 new machines delivered to the NHS, meaning every patient who needs a ventilator has been able to access one". 
    Read full story.
    Source: The Guardian, 18 July 2021
  10. Patient-Safety-Learning
    While most of the UK is double vaccinated, there is still a steady rise in the number of Covid cases, raising concerns about the safety of the unlocking of the UK. 
    On Monday 19th July, England will lift Covid restrictions including mandatory mask wearing as well as limits on indoor mixing. However, if someone is notified by the NHS app, they will still need to self-isolate, a rule that will no longer apply from 16th August if the person is double vaccinated. 
    Read full story.
    Source: CNN 18 July 2021
  11. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Owing to a lack of beds and space, one the of the largest hospitals in the country has had to cancel all it's planned operations for two days. 
    The hospital, which has more than 1,100 beds has had to cancel cancer operations and liver transplants due to an influx in coronavirus patients increasing demand for bed space. 
    Deputy medical director at the University Hospitals Birmingham, Ian Sharp has said “The pressure at the front door, whether its people who should be able to access care elsewhere, or people with Covid, or people with other acute issues, flooding our front door makes it very difficult to function effectively". 
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 16 July 2017
  12. Patient-Safety-Learning
    1.6 million people in England have been told to self-isolate in a week and the government say it is unlikely the Covid app will adjusted to make it less sensitive. 
    Robert Jenrick, communities secretary told the BBC, “It is important we have the app, that we take it seriously and that when we do get those messages, we act accordingly”. 
    According to reports, UK coronavirus cases climbed to 48,553 on Thursday, the highest since January. Concerns have now been raised about the climbing number of cases with fears there may be chaos to come. 
    Read full story.
    Source: The Guardian, 16 July 2021
  13. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Hospital waiting lists across the country could hit 13 million in the months to come.
    Reports have found Manchester Hospitals are having to provide extra beds for critical care patients as the number of people coming in has surged.
    Hospitals are struggling to cope due to increase in patients attending hospitals in the city a reports the Manchester Evening News.
    The “number of people attending emergency departments across Greater Manchester has seen a significant increase in recent weeks” and that assistance from hospitals in other parts of the country was “part of our usual processes”, a spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership has said.
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 15 July 2021
  14. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A major new study has found Long Covid is associated with at least 200 symptoms, the most common of which includes fatigue, post-exertional malaise and cognitive dysfunction.
    The research led by a team at University College London spoke to thousands of people, many of whom have said they experienced symptoms for months. 
    Other symptoms include: visual hallucinations, tremors, itchy skin, changes to the menstrual cycle, sexual dysfunction, heart palpitations, bladder control issues, shingles, memory loss, blurred vision, diarrhoea, and tinnitus.
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 15 July 2021
  15. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A new study has found younger adults admitted to hospital with Covid-19 may suffer similar complications as to those over 50 year old. 
    The research, conducted by 7 different universities, the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England found that around half of all adult patients in hospital with Covid-19 suffered a least one complication.
    Professor Calum Semple who led the work has said, "The message is that this is not just a disease of the elderly and frail".
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 16 July 2021
  16. Patient-Safety-Learning
    NHS Blood and Transplant have estimated that almost 7,000 people are waiting for lifesaving transplants in the UK, the highest number in six years.
    During the first peak of the pandemic last year, several key services have had to be closed reveals the analysis from April 2020 to March 2021, although most were rapidly reinstated and 80% of NHS transplant work went ahead. 
    Figures from the report found 474 patients died while waiting for organs, a higher number than the year before and the majority of patients were waiting for kidney transplants. 
     Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 15 July 2021
  17. Patient-Safety-Learning
    The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has warned there may be a risk to pregnant women when next weeks restrictions relax. 
    Experts are warning that infection rates among pregnant women may increase once the restrictions are lifted and encourage them to protect themselves and their families as women who are pregnant are more likely to become severely ill with Covid-19.
    RCN chief executive Gill Walton, has said: "Along with mask wearing, hand washing and social distancing, vaccination is a vital tool in the fight to protect yourself against this virus.
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 15 July 2021
  18. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Since lockdown, people have not been exposed to viruses that normally circulate during the winter months, but now that restrictions are lifting, there are concerns the viruses may make a comeback. Now, leading medics have warned there will be a surge in respiratory viruses alongside Covid-19 this winter and have urged anyone experiencing symptoms to self-isolate. 
    Testing for flu, Covid and respiratory viruses common in children and elderly may help doctors treat cases quickly, doctors have said. 
    A report by Professor Azra Ghani, from Imperial College London found a surge in winter viruses during the summer. She has said "Whilst we expect the peak in deaths to be considerably lower than last winter, under some scenarios we could see hospital admissions rise to similar levels."
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 15 July 2021
  19. Patient-Safety-Learning
    The Royal College of Nursing has written to the Prime Minister demanding continued protective measures after the loosening of restrictions on July 19th.
    In a joint letter with the British Medical Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, British Dental Association and College of Optometrists, they ask for support and protection for healthcare staff.
    The letter says “The need to recognise health and care settings as unique environments for the care and safety of the most vulnerable is paramount. While you state that you would expect the public to continue wearing face coverings in healthcare settings, we ask that this is translated into action".
    Read full story.
    Source: RCN, 14 July 2021
  20. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A new study has been published focusing on surgical innovation and how it could be made safer. 
    The research set out to develop a 'core outcome set', an agreed minimum set of outcomes to measure and report for safe surgical techniques in all audits, research, and clinical practice. 
    The study, co-led by Dr Kerry Avery, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol and NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has said "It may surprise many people to learn that surgical procedures haven’t traditionally been subject to the kind of regulation we see in other areas of medicine. But to ensure safety and improve efficiency, a core outcome set is an important step".
    Read full story.
    Source: University of Bristol, 13 July 2021
  21. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A new study has found nursing shortages may have negatively impacted patient safety, including unsafe practice management workarounds and cognitive failures.
    Research has found cutting corners when understaffed may have been the only way to get the work done quicker due to the added strain and heavier workload and in another study, it was discovered nurse staffing demand increased to 245 percent between September and December 2020. 
    It was also reported that nurses who had little or no experience of working in the ICU environment were assigned to work there which may have led to higher stress levels and cognitive failures such as memory and attention lapses. 
    Read full story.
    Source: Recycle Intelligence, 13 July 2021
  22. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A new independent inquiry has been launched after reports of mother and baby deaths at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust.
    According to patient safety minister Nadine Dorries, the inquiry will be led externally and will be examining cases going back to 2016. 
    The review has been welcomed by families but they have said they want to be fully involved in the process including setting the terms of reference and making sure it is a truly independent inquiry. 
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 13 July 2021
  23. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New research has suggested unvaccinated young people may be at a higher risk of getting long-term symptoms. With restrictions being lifted on 19th July, concerns have been raised about the impact of the Delta variant. 
    Professor Danny Altmann has said “From every version of Covid we’ve ever seen on the planet, we’ve got a rule of thumb that any case of Covid, whether it’s asymptomatic, mild, severe, or hospitalised, incurs a 10 to 20% risk of developing long Covid, and we haven’t seen any exceptions to that.”
    Read full story.
    Source: The Guardian, 13 July 2021
  24. Patient-Safety-Learning
    As restrictions are due to lift on the 19th July and the mandatory face masks mandate moving to recommended, Scotland have said they will keep the mandatory rule. 
    BMA Council Chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul has called the decision to lift restrictions 'irresponsible and perilous', with Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at the NHS Confederation saying there was "a real risk that dropping the restrictions including to wear masks, especially in health care settings and to socially distance will lead to a significant COVID-19 surge which will place even more strain on a system struggling to cope".
    Read full story.
    Source: Medscape, 13 July 2021
  25. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Researchers at Imperial College London have found a pattern of rouge antibodies that may allow a simple blood test to diagnose Long Covid in the next 6 to 18 months. 
    Currently, there is no diagnostic test for Long Covid and the condition is not yet fully understood, and with the rise in cases, it is not yet known if the vaccination can protect patients from getting long-term symptoms. 
    However, leading the research team at Imperial College London, Professor Danny Altmann believes the research could allow for a test to be performed in a GP surgery. And regarding the rising cases, Professor Altmann has said "If we're heading into a phase of 100,000 cases per day, and, we're saying that 10-20% of all infections can result in long Covid, I can see no certainty that we're not brewing those long Covid cases despite having a vaccinated population,"
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 12 July 2021

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