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Showing results for tags 'Investigation'.
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Content ArticleOn 3 August 2022 an investigation was carried out into the death of Allison Vivian Jacome Aules. Allison was 12 years old when she passed away on the 19 July 2022. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on the 17 August 2023. The conclusion was that Allison died as a result of suicide, contributed to by neglect.
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News ArticleA police investigation into allegations of cover-up and medical negligence over dozens of deaths at the Royal Sussex county hospital (RSCH) in Brighton has been expanded to include more recent cases, amid internal claims about dangerous surgery. In June the Guardian revealed that Sussex police were investigating the deaths of about 40 patients in the general surgery and neurosurgery departments at the RSCH. The force initially said the investigation, since named Operation Bramber, related to allegations of medical negligence in these departments between 2015 and 2020. It has now extended the scope of the investigation to more recent cases, amid internal allegations that the departments continue to be unsafe and fail to properly review serious incidents. An insider said the police should review what was considered to be an avoidable death after a procedure in July. The source said some of the surgeons remained a danger to the public. “You would not want your family members touched by these people,” they said. They added: “This is not a historic issue, it is ongoing. The same surgeons that were involved in previous problems remain in place.” They cited a woman who lost the power of speech in April after an alleged mistake in surgery to remove a brain tumour led to a stroke, and a man who was left with a brain abscess in May after being operated on despite a heightened risk of infection. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 13 September 2023
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Content ArticleThe Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) is an important part of the continuing effort by the US government, industry and individuals to maintain and improve aviation safety. The ASRS collects voluntarily submitted aviation safety incident/situation reports from pilots, controllers and others. it analyses and responds to these incident reports to reduce the likelihood of aviation accidents. ASRS data are used to: identify deficiencies and discrepancies in the National Aviation System (NAS) so that these can be remedied by appropriate authorities. support policy formulation, planning for and improvements to the NAS. strengthen the foundation of aviation human factors safety research. This is particularly important since it is generally recognised that over two-thirds of all aviation accidents and incidents have their roots in human performance errors. The ASRS website outlines the purpose and aims of the system, provides details on how to submit reports and lists related research studies and resources.
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Content ArticleIn rare cases, healthcare providers who have contributed to accidental patient harm may be criminally prosecuted to obtain justice for the patient and family or to set an example, which theoretically prevents other providers from making similar mistakes due to fear of punishment. This strategy was chosen in the recent case of RaDonda Vaught, who was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and impaired adult abuse after a medication error killed a patient in 2017. This article in the journal Human Factors in Healthcare discusses the case and its ramifications for healthcare staff and systems. The authors provide recommendations for actions that healthcare organisations should take to foster a safer and more resilient healthcare system, including: placing an emphasis on just culture. ensuring timely, systems-level investigations of all incidents. refining and bolstering participation in national reporting systems. incorporating Human Factors professionals at multiple levels of organisations. establishing a national safety board for medicine in the US.
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Content Article
Derek Richford’s grandson Harry died in November 2017 at just a week old. Since Harry’s death, Derek has worked tirelessly to uncover the truth about what happened at East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust (EKHUFT) to cause Harry’s death. His efforts resulted in a three-week Article 2 inquest that found that Harry had died from neglect. In addition, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) successfully prosecuted the Trust for unsafe care and treatment and Derek’s work has contributed to a review into maternity and neonatal care services at EKHUFT. In this interview, we speak to Derek about how EKHUFT and other agencies engaged with his family following Harry’s death. As well as outlining how a culture of denial at the Trust affected his family, he talks about individuals and organisations that acted with respect and transparency. He highlights what still needs to be done to make sure bereaved families are treated with openness and dignity when a loved one dies due to avoidable harm. -
News Article
Trust ‘led with integrity’ in face of maternity scandal, says CQC
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A trust facing a police investigation into one of the NHS’s largest ever maternity scandals is no longer rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission in its well-led and maternity domains. Nottingham University Hospitals Trust was rated “inadequate” for its leadership and maternity services during inspections in 2021 and 2022, following serious care failings exposed by staff and patients during this period. The Nottinghamshire police confirmed last week they were opening an investigation. But the regulator noted improvements after its well-led and maternity inspections which took place in April and June. The well-led rating has gone up from “inadequate” to “requires improvement” and maternity services at both hospitals have also gone up to “requirements improvement”. Greg Rielly, CQC deputy director of operations in the Midlands, said: “During this inspection, we saw a team that consistently led with integrity who were open and honest in their approach.” However, he stressed that while the culture across the trust was improving, some staff still didn’t feel able to raise concerns without fear of retribution. “Leaders were aware of this and were working to create a workplace that is free from bullying, harassment, racism, and discrimination so we hope to see an improved picture soon,” he said. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 13 September 2023 -
Content ArticleChris Elston, Patient Safety Education Lead, University Hospital Southampton, shares with the hub his Trust's Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) frequently asked questions. Please feel free to adapt and share at your own organisation.
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Content ArticleEvent analysis is a valuable tool to improve patient safety and quality of care by identifying root causes of incidents and implementing corrective actions to prevent future similar events from occurring. When we analyse adverse events in healthcare and do not incorporate an equity lens, however, we are missing a crucial piece of the investigative puzzle. Health equity is essential to improving health and well-being and can be costly if not addressed as explained in this Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) blog
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Content Article
On 18 August 2023, Lucy Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies and convicted of trying to kill six other infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Looking ahead to the forthcoming independent inquiry into this case, Patient Safety Learning, reflecting on the inquiries of the past, sets out some key patient safety themes and issues that should be considered as part of this.- Posted
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News Article
Trust heavily criticised by coroner for delays to death investigations
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A coroner has strongly criticised a mental health trust for failing to investigate serious incidents promptly. Tees Esk and Wear Valleys Foundation Trust has been told that delays in probing serious incidents may “compromise the quality” of these investigations and hence “their value in preventing deaths”. The warnings, from Jeremy Chipperfield, senior coroner for County Durham and Darlington, come amid an ongoing inquest into the death of TEWV patient Ian Darwin. Mr Darwin died aged 42 in March, and the serious incident review into his death is still ongoing. A recently published prevention of future deaths report relating to Mr Darwin’s death said TEWV’s serious incident death investigations, “at all levels of seriousness, are routinely (if not invariably) significantly delayed and I understand there is no expectation of immediate, or any timetable for eventual rectification”. “In permitting delay of ‘serious incident’ investigations, TEWV may permit lethal hazard to persist for longer than necessary, and compromise the quality of such investigations and hence their value in preventing avoidable deaths.” -
Content ArticleOn 7 March 2023 the coroner commenced an investigation into the death of Ian Darwin, aged 42. The investigation has not yet concluded and the inquest has not yet been heard. However, during the course of the investigation the inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. The coroner concluded that in his opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.
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News Article
Public inquiry to be held into disgraced brain surgeon
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A public inquiry will be held into the disgraced brain surgeon Sam Eljamel, the Scottish government has confirmed. Eljamel harmed dozens of patients at NHS Tayside, leaving some with life-changing injuries. He was head of neurosurgery at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee until December 2013, when he was suspended. Health Secretary Michael Matheson said he was persuaded of the need for the inquiry after reading a damning due diligence review into NHS Tayside. It follows a long-running campaign which saw almost 150 former patients of the surgeon calling for the inquiry. Mr Matheson said he had concluded that a public inquiry was "the only route to get to the bottom of who knew what and when, and what contributed to the failures described by NHS Tayside". The health secretary said he also wanted to see individual cases reviewed independently of NHS Tayside in a "person-centred, trauma-informed" manner. Read full story Source: BBC News, 7 September 2023 -
News Article
Trust and manager charged with manslaughter
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
North East London Foundation Trust has been charged with corporate manslaughter – making it only the second NHS provider to be prosecuted for the crime. The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to bring a charge of corporate manslaughter against the mental health provider in regard to the death of Alice Figueiredo at the trust’s Goodmayes Hospital on 7 July 2015. Goodmayes ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa has also been charged with gross negligence manslaughter, and an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act. The trust and Mr Aninakwa will appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 4 October. The prosecution follows a five year investigation by Met detectives. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 7 September 2023 -
News Article
Police to launch inquiry into maternity unit deaths
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A police investigation is to be launched into failings that led to dozens of baby deaths and injuries at a hospital trust. The maternity units at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust are already being examined in a review by senior midwife Donna Ockenden. The review will become the largest ever carried out in the UK, with about 1,800 families affected. Nottinghamshire Police said its decision to investigate followed discussions with Ms Ockenden. Her team is looking into failings that led to babies dying or being injured at Nottingham City Hospital and the Queen's Medical Centre. Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: "On Wednesday I met with Donna Ockenden to discuss her independent review into maternity cases of potentially significant concern at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) and to build up a clearer picture of the work that is taking place. "We want to work alongside the review but also ensure that we do not hinder its progress. "However, I am in a position to say we are preparing to launch a police investigation. "I have appointed the Assistant Chief Constable, Rob Griffin, to oversee the preparations and the subsequent investigation." Read full story Source: BBC News, 7 September 2023 -
News Article
Young autistic people still dying despite coroner warnings over care
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Dozens of young autistic people have died after serious failings in their care despite repeated warnings from coroners, BBC News has found. Their investigation found issues that were flagged a decade ago are still being warned about now. Two bereaved mothers said lessons had not been learned by their local health authority after the deaths of their teenage sons, two years apart. The coroner who oversaw both cases, noted a repeated failure in care. After the first death, the coroner criticised NHS Kent and Medway for "inadequate support" and said a similar incident may happen if this continued. Two years later, the second autistic teenager died under the care of the same authority. The same coroner found that had the victim received the recommended level of care, he might have got the therapy he needed. In the first piece of research of its kind, the BBC combed through more than 4,000 Prevention of Future Death (PFD) notices delivered in England and Wales over the past 10 years. Read full story Source: BBC News, 7 September 2023 -
News Article
Steve Barclay names Lucy Letby inquiry lead amid patient safety address
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Health secretary, Steve Barclay, has named Lady Justice Thirlwall as the chair of the independent inquiry into the crimes committed by former Countess of Chester Hospital nurse, Lucy Letby. The inquiry was given statutory powers last week and will be led by one of the country’s most senior judges, who currently sits on the Court of Appeal. The announcement came during Barclay’s speech in the House of Commons, where he also announced that the chair of the Essex mental health inquiry will be Baroness Lampard, who investigated the crimes of Jimmy Saville in a similar inquiry led by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The rest of the health secretary’s address centred around patient safety and what the government has done, is doing and will do. Barclay drew attention to the appointment of Dr Aidan Fowler as NHS England’s first ever national director of patient safety in 2018, and thus the following patient safety strategy in 2019. Read full story Source: National Health Executive, 4 September 2023 -
Content ArticleLearn Together is a resource website that equips patients and families with the knowledge and resources to be involved effectively in patient safety investigations. The resources have been designed, together with people who have experienced patient safety incidents and investigations, to provide the information and support patients might need following a patient safety incident. Information is provided in a range of formats including downloadable guides, videos and infographics. The site also provides information and resources for engagement leads. Learn Together is a partnership between Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Leeds, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
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News Article
Trust told it ‘lacks skills or integrity’ to carry out suicides review
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A senior clinician has raised fundamental concerns about a trust’s probe into dozens of suicide cases, which was sparked by his allegations that staff had tampered with the notes of a patient. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust announced in July there would be an internal review of 60 suicide cases dating back to 2017. But a key whistleblower told HSJ he fears it could be a “whitewash” and it should be carried by an external, independent investigator rather than led by the trust. The suicides review was prompted by allegations staff had added a care plan into the patient record of Charles Ndhlovu, a day after the 33-year-old had died by suicide in 2017. The allegations, not contested by the trust, were based on the findings of an internal investigation in 2021 of the trust’s conduct around Mr Ndhlovu’s case. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 6 September 2023 -
Content ArticleThis guide developed by Learn Together and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been designed to help patients and families understand what to expect from patient safety investigations and how they can be involved in the process. It includes quotes and advice from patients who have been through patient safety investigations and spaces to record experiences, questions and reflections. The guide provides an outline of the investigation process, broken down into five stages: Understanding you and your needs Agreeing how you work together Giving and getting information Checking and finalising the report Next steps
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News Article
NHS ‘a long way’ from being ‘proactive’ on safety, watchdog warns
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Integrated care systems (ICSs) should factor patient safety into all their operational and financial decisions, the Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch’s chief investigator has urged. Rosie Benneyworth, who was appointed as interim chief investigator last summer, said other safety-critical industries made decisions on the basis of a “triad” of operations, finances and safety. She said the NHS needed to be “more proactive” to take action before things go wrong. Dr Benneyworth said in an interview with HSJ: “I think it’s fundamental that ICSs put safety at the core of everything they do. And I don’t think operational decisions or financial decisions should be made without considering the implications for safety.” Dr Benneyworth – a former GP and commissioner – also spoke about whistleblowing in the wake of the Lucy Letby scandal, saying national organisations should “lead the way” on being proactive over safety and supporting whistleblowers. Major cultural problems were uncovered at HSIB several years ago, while NHSE has been under the spotlight in recent weeks for implementation of the “fit and proper person” test for board members. “I think it’s very difficult as national organisations to tell providers what they should [be] doing, if we’re not doing it ourselves,” Dr Benneyworth said. She added: “What we need is a much more proactive approach to safety, where we actually identify those things that could go wrong and take action before they do go wrong." Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 5 September 2023 -
Content ArticleThis is an oral statement given to the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay MP, to update on the Lucy Letby statutory inquiry.
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Content ArticleIn this interview for Times Radio, Sir Robert Francis KC, who led the 2010 inquiry into failures in care at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, discusses the benefits and disadvantages of statutory and non-statutory inquiries. In light of Lucy Letby's conviction for the murder of seven babies under her care while she worked as a NICU nurse, he also talks about how poor organisational culture can lead to staff covering up patient safety concerns.
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News Article
Man's bed death was avoidable, says coroner
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The death of a retired police officer who got his head trapped in a hospital bed was an avoidable accident, an inquest has concluded. Max Dingle, 83, of Newtown, Powys, died after he became stuck between the rails and mattress at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on 3 May 2020. The initial post-mortem test gave the cause of death as heart disease. But a second examination, commissioned by Mr Dingle's son, found entrapment and asphyxiation to be the cause. After comparing and discussing their findings, both pathologists then agreed "entrapment did play a significant part in the cause of death", the senior coroner for Shropshire John Ellery said. The inquest was told Mr Dingle's son Phil had asked for the second post-mortem test because "did not accept" the initial findings and had sought the opinion of a pathologist in Australia, where he lives. Max Dingle, who had been admitted to the hospital with shortness of breath, died 15 minutes after he was found to be trapped, the hearing was told. Concluding the inquest, Mr Ellery said: "Based on all the evidence, the conclusions of this inquest are Mr Dingle's death was an avoidable accident." Read full story Source: BBC News, 1 June 2022 -
News ArticleA compensation scheme for thousands of people affected by the infected blood scandal, described as the biggest treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, will reportedly be announced within weeks. Ministers will set up an arm’s-length body to administer the funds, which could run into hundreds of millions of pounds, and recognise culpability for the scandal for the first time, according to the Sunday Times. As many as 30,000 people became severely ill after being given factor VIII blood products that were contaminated with HIV and hepatitis C imported from the US in the 1970s and 80s, or after being exposed to tainted blood through transfusions or after childbirth. On average, one person affected is dying every four days, with approximately 3,000 having died to date. Last year, before the then health secretary Matt Hancock’s appearance at the public inquiry into the scandal, the paymaster general, Penny Mordaunt, announced the appointment of Sir Robert Francis QC to examine options for a framework for compensation before the inquiry reports its findings. A Cabinet Office spokesperson confirmed the review would be published shortly. “The government intends to publish the study by Sir Robert Francis QC in time for the inquiry and its core participants to consider it before Sir Robert gives evidence to the inquiry in July,” they said. “Government will give full consideration to Sir Robert’s recommendations and evidence to the inquiry.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 29 May 2022
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News Article
Woman stored baby’s remains in fridge after London hospital refused them
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A London hospital has launched an investigation after a woman whose baby died in the womb had to deliver her son at home due to lack of beds and keep his remains in her fridge when A&E staff said they could not store them safely. Laura Brody and her partner, Lawrence, said they were “tipped into hell” after being sent home by university hospital Lewisham to await a bed when told their baby no longer had a heartbeat but no beds were immediately available to give birth, the BBC reported. Two days later, after waking up in severe pain, Brody, who was four months into her pregnancy, gave birth in agony on the toilet in their bathroom. “And it was then,” she told the broadcaster, “I saw it was a boy”. The couple, who wanted investigative tests to be carried out at a later time, dialled 999 but were told it was not an emergency. They wrapped their baby’s remains in a wet cloth, placed him in a Tupperware box, and went to A&E where they were told to wait in the general waiting room, they said. She was eventually taken into a bay and told she would require surgery to remove the placenta. But, with the waiting room hot and stuffy and staff refusing to store the remains or even look inside the Tupperware box, they decided as it got to midnight they had no option but for her partner to take their baby’s remains home. Brody said the whole experience “felt so grotesque”. “When things go wrong with pregnancy there are not the systems in place to help you, even with all the staff and their experts – and they are working really hard – the process is so flawed that it just felt like we had been tipped into hell,” she told Radio 4’s Today programme. The case is said to have raised wider concerns among campaigners who argue that miscarriage care needs to be properly prioritised within hospitals including A&E. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 30 May 2022
