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News Article
Mental health charity slams Government's ‘irresponsible’ coronavirus bill
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A mental health charity has branded as “irresponsible” the Government’s coronavirus bill which would grant single doctors the power to detain the mentally ill. The Government wants to relax legal safeguards in the Mental Health Act in order to free up medical staff to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. If passed, the bill would reduce the number of doctors needed to approve detaining individuals from the current minimum of two, to just one. In addition, it would temporarily allow time limits in the Mental Health Act to be extended or removed altogether. This would mean patients currently detained in mental health facilities could be released into the community early, or be detained for longer. Akiko Hart, Chief of National Survivor User Network (NSUN), a UK mental health charity, said: “Whilst we understand that these are unprecedented times, any legislative change must be proportionate and thought through, and should protect all of us. Minimising some of the safeguards in the Mental Health Act and extending its powers, is a step in the wrong direction.” Read full story Source: The London Economic, 19 March 2020- Posted
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Content ArticlePatients in inpatient mental health settings face similar risks (e.g., medication errors) to those in other areas of healthcare. In addition, some unsafe behaviours associated with serious mental health problems (e.g., self-harm), and the measures taken to address these (e.g., restraint), may result in further risks to patient safety. The objective of this review from Thibaut et al., published in BMJ Open, was to identify and synthesise the literature on patient safety within inpatient mental health settings using robust systematic methodology. The authors found that patient safety in inpatient mental health settings is under-researched in comparison to other non-mental health inpatient settings. Findings demonstrate that inpatient mental health settings pose unique challenges for patient safety, which require investment in research, policy development, and translation into clinical practice.
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Content ArticleLots of our children are worried about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, so the Maltings Surgery put together a short explainer video to help lower the anxiety levels amongst our younger generation. Be kind to each other and yourselves.
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Content Article
"The tsunami is coming and we’re all terrified"
Anonymous posted an article in Blogs
I am a nurse providing specialist support to seriously ill patients at a large acute Trust in England. Today I have been working with patients who have COVID-19. I am angry and scared.- Posted
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Content Article
WHO: Q&A on disability considerations during coronavirus
PatientSafetyLearning Team posted an article in Guidance
In this question and answer session, produced by the World Health Organization, guests discuss the considerations that need to be made specific to disability during the coronavirus pandemic. Considerations include that people with disabilities may be less able to social distance, due to the support required and so will potentially be more at risk of contracting the virus. Some people with disabilities may have further underlying health conditions, respiratory function and immune responses that could make them at higher risk of developing a severe case if they get get the virus.- Posted
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Content Article
World at war: The journey continues
Carol Menashy posted an article in Blogs
I'd like to share with you how SISOS is supporting staff at The Royal Free Trust during the coronavirus pandemic.- Posted
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Content ArticleThis blog was intended to give insights into what it is like working during this crisis on the frontline. I was going to explain what I see day to day, the stress that healthcare workers are under, the situation with personal protective equipment (PPE), the pressure on intensive care unit (ICU) beds and the ward. But unfortunately it's not that simple...
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Content ArticleThis study from Stevenson and Farmer concludes that underneath the stigma that surrounds mental health and prevents open discussion on the subject, the UK faces a significant mental health challenge at work. They start from the position that the correct way to view mental health is that we all have it and we fluctuate between thriving, struggling and being ill and possibly off work. People with poor mental health, including common mental health problems and severe mental illness, can be in any of these groups. An individual can have a serious mental health problem but – with the right support – can still be thriving at work.
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Content ArticleIn January 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of a new coronavirus disease to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. WHO stated there is a high risk of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreading to other countries around the world. In March 2020, WHO made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised as a pandemic. WHO and public health authorities around the world are acting to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. However, this time of crisis is generating stress in the population. These mental health considerations were developed by the WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Use as messages targeting different groups to support for mental and psychosocial well-being during COVID-19 outbreak.
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Content Article
Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Mental health
Coronavirus has plunged the world into uncertainty and the constant news about the pandemic can feel relentless. All of this is taking its toll on people's mental health, particularly those already living with conditions like anxiety and OCD. So how can we protect our mental health? This BBC article gives some useful advice. -
Content Article
Intensive Care Society: Wellbeing resource library
Claire Cox posted an article in Mental health
The Intensive Care Society is delighted to share their wellbeing resource pack developed with Dr Julie Highfield, Clinical Psychologist. The poster series aims to improve our understanding of psychological wellbeing at work, the impact reduced wellbeing can have and what we can do in response, and includes tips for dealing with extraordinary situations such as COVID-19 and everyday working in critical care.- Posted
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Content ArticleA patient shares her story of how catastrophic complications from a hysterectomy has changed her life forever.
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WHO: Coping with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Mental health
The World Health Organization (WHO) have created this poster to give advice on how to cope if you feel worried about the coronavirus.- Posted
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News Article
NHS 'failing' patients living with HIV
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The failure to address the mental-health needs of people with HIV could lead to an increase in infections, a cross-party group of MPs suggests. People with HIV are twice as likely to experience mental-health difficulties. However, in those with depression, support raises adherence to medication by 83%. But most HIV clinics have no mental-health professionals on staff, which, the MPs say, could be reversing progress made over the past decade toward ending the epidemic in the UK. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on HIV and AIDS met with patients living with HIV at a range of hospital trusts throughout England, as well as numerous healthcare professionals. Unless serious mental-health treatment shortfalls are addressed, the government will fail to achieve its target of zero transmissions by 2030, its report says. Read full story Source: BBC News, 5 March 2020- Posted
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News ArticleNeglect and serious failures by the Home Office and multiple other agencies contributed to the death of a vulnerable man who died from hypothermia, dehydration and malnutrition in an immigration removal centre, an inquest has found. Prince Fosu, a 31-year-old Ghanaian national, died in October 2012 when his naked body was found on the concrete floor of his cell in Harmondsworth, a detention centre near Heathrow. He had been experiencing a psychotic episode but he was not referred for a mental health assessment due to “gross failures” by all agencies to recognise the need to provide appropriate care to a person unable to look after himself. Four GPs, two nurses, two Home Office contract monitors, three members of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) and countless detention custody officers and managers who visited him failed to take any meaningful steps, the inquest found. Three doctors have since been referred to the UK’s medical watchdog for their alleged failures relating to the death of Mr Fosu on recommendation of the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO), who said the care he received fell “considerably below acceptable standards”. Read full story Source: The Independent, 3 March 2020
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News Article
Young people put at risk by delays for treatment
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
More than 70 children and young people have been put at risk by long delays in treatment by mental health services in Kent and Medway, HSJ has learned. According to a response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by HSJ, 205 harm reviews have been carried out for patients waiting for treatment following a referral to the North East London Foundation Trust, which runs the child and adolescent mental health services in Kent and Medway. Of those, 76 patients, who had all waited longer than the 18 week target time for treatment, were found to be at risk of harm. One patient had to be seen immediately as they were judged to be at “severe” risk. Seven were found to be at “moderate” risk and 68 at “low” risk. The trust said “risk” meant a risk of harm to themselves or others. But it said none of the 76 patients had come to actual harm. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 25 February 2020- Posted
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News Article
Patients at risk in ‘crumbling’ mental health wards, NHS leaders warn
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Patient safety is at risk in “crumbling” NHS mental health hospitals starved of the money needed to improve dilapidated buildings, new data has revealed. Hundreds of vulnerable mentally ill patients are still being cared for in 350 old dormitory-style wards, 20 years after the NHS was told to provide all patients with en-suite rooms. A lack of funding to refurbish hospitals has also meant too many wards still have ligature points that patients can use to try to harm themselves. NHS leaders said the lack of cash from the government meant they could not deal with warnings issued by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the sector’s watchdog. A survey of mental health trust leaders by NHS Providers has now found bosses are worried the state of psychiatric wards is undermining their ability to keep patients safe. Read full story Source: The Independent, 20 February 2020- Posted
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News Article
NHS "took 18 months to help after suicide attempt"
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Poor treatment and aftercare for people who self-harm or attempt suicide is putting their lives at risk, the Royal College of Psychiatrists says. Many patients treated in A&E for self-harm do not receive a full psychosocial assessment from a mental health professional to assess suicide risk. Simon Rose, who has attempted suicide many times, told BBC News it once took 18 months to receive aftercare. NHS England said reducing suicide rates was an "NHS priority". Last year, UK suicide rates rose for the first time since 2013, with people born in the 1960s and 1970s being the most vulnerable. Experts are now calling for all self-harm patients to be offered a safety plan – an agreed set of bespoke activities and guidelines to help them deal with depressive episodes. Dr Huw Stone, who chairs the patients' safety group at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said patients, especially those under 30, were being systematically let down in their most vulnerable state. "With hospital admissions for self-harming under-30s more than doubling in the last 10 years, there has never been a more important time to ensure patients are getting the care that they need," he said. Read full story Source: BBC News, 21 February 2020 -
Content ArticleMarginalised groups (‘populations outside of mainstream society’) experience severe health inequities, as well as increased risk of experiencing patient safety incidents. To date however no review exists to identify, map and analyse the literature in this area in order to understand 1) which marginalised groups have been studied in terms of patient safety research, 2) what the particular patient safety issues are for such groups and 3) what contributes to or is associated with these safety issues arising. This review from Cheraghi-Sohi et al. in the International Journal for Equity in Health highlights that marginalised patient groups are vulnerable to experiencing a variety patient safety issues and points to a number of gaps. The findings indicate the need for further research to understand the intersectional nature of marginalisation and the multi-dimensional nature of patient safety issues, for groups that have been under-researched, including those with mental health problems, communication and cognitive impairments.
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Content ArticleDr James Reed, CCIO, Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, presented at the recent Bevan Brittan Patient Safety Seminar. As one of the Mental Health & Global Digital Exemplars, James discussed how his trust has implemented innovative digital technology to improve patient observations on the ward. His presentation slides are attached.
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News ArticleThe former police chief who investigated mental health services in a crisis-hit health board was “shocked” by the poor working relationships and “blame shifting” he uncovered. David Strang, who led the independent inquiry into the issues in NHS Tayside, said staff felt isolated and unsupported and people complained about each other’s practices without coming together to sort the issues out. He described asking staff questions based on information he had received and being met with the response: “Who told you?” He added: “A lot of staff felt there was a real blame culture and that risk and blame fell to the front line.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: 6 February 2020, The Times
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Content Article
Bitter pill – A paramedic's tale
Anonymous posted an article in Florence in the Machine
What impact does working on the frontline in healthcare have on your own mental health? How do you cope with the daily traumatic events you see at work and then go home and care for your family? What happens when you start to feel out of control? In this blog, a paramedic recounts their feelings and fear when things started to get out of control at work and at home, describing the symptoms of 'moral injury', and how talking openly to colleagues, their line-manager and to a counsellor helped them to recover. -
Content Article
Protecting the mental health of UK paramedics (January 2019)
Claire Cox posted an article in Mental health
It is estimated that the average member of the public within the UK will experience one or maybe two traumatic situations in a lifetime – whether that be through witnessing or being involved in an accident, natural disaster, collision, medical episode or traumatic event. Those working in frontline emergency ambulance services however are exposed to distressing and traumatic events on a much more frequent basis. This paper, Published in the Journal of Paramedic Practice, discusses Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among emergency workers, the effects it has on them and what can be done to support them.- Posted
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Content Article“It’s not something we talk about or that everybody experiences to the same degree but I think most of us are affected, be it subconsciously or consciously by antiquated, competitive, hierarchical values. Revered doctors are those that work above and beyond the hours they are paid for, that come in even when they are sick, that prioritise work over their families, over sleep and their own health. Doctors that are kind and compassionate but that don’t allow themselves to be affected by their experiences. Doctors that would go from one cardiac arrest to the next without letting their judgement cloud or their actions falter.” This blog by Dr Natalie Ashburner who is the Doctors Association UK (DAUK) Editor emphasises the importance of doctors speaking up about their mental health.
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