Jump to content
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    3,877

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Patient-Safety-Learning

PSL Moderators

 Content Type 

News posted by Patient-Safety-Learning

  1. Patient-Safety-Learning
    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."
    Read full story.
    Source: The Herald, 01 September 2021
  2. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Prof Jonathan Van-Tam has said around 60,000 deaths have been prevented in England as a result of the Covid vaccine programme, with approximately 22 million cases having also been stopped, saying the likelihood of another lockdown was 'much lower' if a higher proportion of the population get the jab. 
    Disputing a claim made to a newspaper by a senior minister regarding the drop in cases, he says, "I hope the worst is behind us but I think it's quite possible that we're going to have one or two bumpy periods in the autumn and in the winter, not only through Covid, but also through flu and other respiratory viruses as well."
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 29 July 2021
  3. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Chris Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer has said the pandemic will have an impact on mental health for a considerable period to come. 
    Speaking at the Royal College of Psychiatrists international congress, The CMO acknowledged the pandemic may have caused a lot of fear and anxiety as well as affecting people's social support and finances. 
    Whilst Chris Whitty is optimistic that the end of the pandemic is in sight, he believes there will still continue to be some difficulties, now and in the future. 
    Read full article.
    Source: BMJ, 28 June 2021
  4. Patient-Safety-Learning
    NHS staff have faced abuse by members of the public after demanding their second dose of the jab earlier than 8 weeks so they can go on holiday. 
    A doctors has said covid-19 vaccinators are experiencing aggression and threats from people and after one incident, police had to be called over fears for safety.
    Chair of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Martin Marshall has said: “It is understandable that people want to be fully vaccinated as soon as possible. But it is entirely unacceptable for anybody working on the Covid vaccination programme, be it in GP-led sites, mass vaccination centres or hospital centres, to be at the receiving end of verbal abuse and intimidation.
    Read full story.
    Source: The Guardian, 10 July 2021
  5. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A new antibody testing programme has been launched where participants will be sent two finger-prick tests to complete at home and then inform the UK Health Security Agency of the antibody response to different coronavirus variants.
    The new programme was created in order to generate new data on antibody protections for people following infection by different coronavirus variants, and from Tuesday, anyone over the age of 18 in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, will be able to opt into the programme.
    Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said "Our new national antibody testing will be quick and easy to take part in [and by] doing so you'll be helping strengthen our understanding of COVID-19 as we cautiously return to a more normal life. I'm proud to see all parts of the UK uniting around this new initiative and working together to arm ourselves with even more valuable insights into how COVID-19 vaccines are protecting people up and down the UK."
    Read full story.
    Source: Sky News, 22 August 2021
  6. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New data looking at the pandemic from the past 12 months has found children are at extremely low risk of becoming very ill or dying from Covid-19. 
    Those who were living with disabilities or chronic illness were also found to have a very low risk, despite being considered at most risk. 
    Scientists from four different universities (UCL, York, Bristol and Liverpool) have said their studies on children are the most comprehensive yet, finding hospital stays a rarity. 
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 08 July 2021
  7. Patient-Safety-Learning
    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. 
    Read full story.
    Source: Sky News, 02 September 2021
  8. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New research has found symptoms in the early days of Covid-19 may differ between men and women. 
    The study by King's College London, examined 18 symptoms from data obtained from the ZOE COVID Symptom Study App. Results found men were most likely to experience shortness of breath, fatigue, chills and fever, whereas women were more likely to report loss of smell, chest pain and a persistent cough.
    "It's important people know the earliest symptoms are wide-ranging and may look different for each member of a family or household. Testing guidance could be updated to enable cases to be picked up earlier, especially in the face of new variants which are highly transmissible. This could include using widely available lateral flow tests for people with any of these non-core symptoms." Lead author and reader at King's College London, Claire Steves has said. 
    Read full story.
    Source: Sky News, 30 July 2021
  9. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Parents to Ollie Bibby, 27, were unable to see their dying son in UCL Hospital and describe their experience as being treated 'like criminals'. 
    Outrage has come after Matt Hancock, England's Health Secretary was caught having an affair with aide, breaking the social distancing rules. Mother, Penny Bibby, has said she is 'livid' that Mr Hancock broke the rules whilst she and her husband were unable to see their dying son. 
    UCLH have responded that they are learning from the family's experience and are confident he received the appropriate care and treatment and offer their 'sincere condolences'. 
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 29 June 2021
  10. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Women forced to give birth alone have said 'the system has completely failed' them.
    A new report by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service found the Covid rules requiring pregnant women to attend scans and give birth alone has caused widespread distress and anxiety. 
    The research also revealed many women having to attend their appointments online felt it did not meet their requirements at all. 
    The Royal College of Psychiatrists, who released the findings, have said due to a lack of support and resources, the mental health of pregnant women and new mothers is at risk. 
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 01 July 2021
  11. Patient-Safety-Learning
    There has been a "harrowing" rise in child deaths and serious cases of harm linked to to abuse or neglect of children since the first Covid lockdown, according to reports from the Local Government Association (LGA).
    Data has revealed there were 536 serious incident notifications in England between April 2020 and March 2021, with LGA saying it was a "huge cause for concern" and it is extremely concerned about children’s safety.
    Councillor Anntoinette Bramble, chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, has said, "The pandemic has put extra pressure on families, particularly those living in difficult circumstances, which can fuel harmful acts of abuse or neglect on children. Councils have been working hard with their partners to identify this and provide the help children need, but it is vital that children’s social care services are funded to meet this need.”
    Read full story.
    Source: The Independent, 21 August 2021
  12. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New research has found oxygen therapy may help reduce the number of patients needing a ventilator. The research trial, conducted across 48 hospitals in the UK, found that out of the three methods of oxygen delivery, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) could be the most beneficial in reducing the need for a patient to go on a ventilator. 
    "The routine use of high-flow nasal oxygenation, which can consume large amounts of oxygen, should be reconsidered, as it did not improve outcomes. By giving patients the most effective treatment to begin with, we can help prevent resource shortages in our NHS and make sure the right type of ventilation is available to patients when it is required." Says Prof Gavin Perkins, from the Warwick Medical School. 
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 05 August 2021
  13. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Experts have warned that a device used to detect signs of oxygen level drops may not work as well on darker skin. 
    According to NHS England and MHRA, pulse oximeters may sometimes overestimate oxygen levels. Now, NHS England is updating their guidance advising patients patients from black, Asian and other ethnic minority groups to seek advice from their healthcare professional, but to continue using pulse oximeters. 
    "We need to ensure there is common knowledge on potential limitations in healthcare equipment and devices, particularly for populations at heightened risk of life-changing illness, this includes black, Asian and diverse communities using pulse oximeters to monitor their oxygen levels at home," says Dr Habib Naqvi, director of the NHS Race and Health Observatory. 
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC, 1 August 2021
  14. Patient-Safety-Learning
    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"
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 02 September 2021
  15. 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
  16. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New data from the NHS suggests 23% of patients with Covid infections were admitted into hospital for other reasons. 
    The government has denied the numbers were previously overstated due to NHS pressures, with each patient being tested for Covid whenever they come into hospital, regardless of the reason. This measure has been said as "still the most important" by the The Department for Health and Social Care because of the impact patients who have tested positive can have on NHS capacity and workforce pressure.
    "The main role for hospitalisation statistics is to indicate the pressure on the NHS. Patients with Covid have to be treated in a resource-intensive way, whether Covid was the primary reason for their admission or not, and even if they caught it in hospital. Therefore the total number in hospital with Covid seems an appropriate overall summary statistic, although this new breakdown does provide additional information." Says Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter, from the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at the University of Cambridge
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 31 July 2021
  17. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A major review of vaccines suggests the AstraZeneca jab does raise the risk of blood clots and another serious condition that can cause bleeding. However, the study also found the complications following coronavirus infection to be much higher.
    The University of Oxford-led team also found an increased risk of stroke after the Pfizer jab but also found it at a much lower rate than after infection. This comes after a coroner ruled that BBC Radio Newcastle presenter Lisa Shaw died due of complications from the AstraZeneca jab.
    Lead author Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox said it was "important people were aware of the risks, but that they were kept in context given the higher risk from being infected".
    Read full story.
    Source: BBC News, 26 August 2021
  18. 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
  19. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Appletree Hospital in Durham, a unit that provides female patients needing mental health care, has received an urgent enforcement notice from the Care Quality Commission.
    According to a report published by the CQC today, the hospital had “ineffective leadership”, also warning staff were carrying out “inappropriate” restraint on patients and that restraint was used “as a first line intervention”. The CQC report revealed staff had also claimed managers accepted the use of “unnecessary” restrictive practices.
    A spokeswoman for Cygnet’s Appletree unit said: “We move forward with strengthened local leadership, including a new hospital director and safeguarding and quality improvement leads.”
    Read full story (paywalled).
    Source: HSJ, 25 August 2021
  20. 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
  21. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Critically ill patients “will inevitably die” because hospitals are having to cancel surgery as a direct result of next week’s junior doctors’ strike in England, leading heart experts have warned.
    There were bound to be fatalities among people with serious heart problems whose precarious health meant they were “a ticking timebomb” and needed surgery as soon as possible, they said. They added that patients would face an even greater risk than usual of being harmed or dying if their time-sensitive operation was delayed because NHS heart units would have too few medics available during the four-day stoppage by junior doctors to run normal operating lists.
    The trio of cardiac experts are senior doctors at the Royal Brompton and Harefield specialist heart and lung hospitals in London. Those facilities, plus the cardiac unit at St Thomas’ hospital in the capital, have between them postponed between 30 and 40 operations they were due to conduct next week on “P2” patients, whose fragile health means they need surgery within 28 days.
    “It is no exaggeration to say that delaying surgery for this group [P2s] will result in harm. For some, this may be life-changing. For others, it may mean premature death,” said Dr Richard Grocott-Mason, a cardiologist who is also the chief executive of the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals.
    Read full story
    Source: The Guardian, 4 April 2023
  22. Patient-Safety-Learning
    In the past week, many people have been 'pinged' by the NHS app, informing them they have been in close contact with someone who has had the Covid-19 virus and that they should self-isolate. However, despite this advice there is no legal obligation. 
    Downing street, on the other hand, have urged those who have been 'pinged' to self-isolate when sent the alert via the app. 
    A spokeswoman for No 10 has said "Given the risk of having and spreading the virus when people have been in contact with someone with Covid, it is crucial people isolate when they are told to do so, either by NHS Test and Trace or by the NHS Covid app".
    Read full story.
    Source. BBC News, 20 July 2021
  23. Patient-Safety-Learning
    Eighteen more hospitals in England contain potentially crumbling concrete, bring the total affected to 42, the Department of Health has confirmed.
    The reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) has also been found in 214 schools and colleges in England as well as thousands of other buildings. NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said the concrete "puts patients and staff at risk".
    Full structural surveys are taking place at all newly confirmed sites. The government said it was committed to eradicating Raac from NHS buildings completely by 2035. Seven of the worst-affected hospitals will be replaced by 2030 as part of the programme to build 40 new hospitals in England, it added.
    Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, said there had been fears that more of the material would be found following surveys of NHS buildings. "Trusts are doing everything they can, at huge cost, to keep patients safe where this concrete is found," he said.
    Read full story
    Source: BBC News, 21 October 2023
  24. Patient-Safety-Learning
    A new report into maternity safety has found due to a 'culture of blame' lessons haven't been learned. 
    Jeremy Hunt, chair of the Health Committee has said 1,000 more babies a year would survive if the maternity service in England was as safe as Sweden's. 
    Another expert report found a high incidence of brain injuries in maternity units. A new budget has been set out to help reduce the rate of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths and brain injuries by 2025. 
    Read full story. 
    Source: BBC News, 06 July 2021
  25. Patient-Safety-Learning
    New analysis from Scotland has found there may be a possible, though small, increased risk of developing a condition called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) after administration of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine. 
    Doctors assure patients that the condition is treatable and often mild and it is more often seen in those who have pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease. 
    The condition has also been seen in patients after taking other vaccines including the flu, MMR and hepatitis B.
    Read full story.
    Source: The Guardian, 9 June 2021
×
×
  • 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.

 Accept Cookies  Reject Cookies