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Showing results for tags 'Obstetrics and gynaecology/ Maternity'.
Found 399 results
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Content Article'Kicking the Hornet’s Nest' is a documentary that looks at power morcellation, a popular gynaecologic procedure used to perform hysterectomies. The documentary demonstrates how the practice has been inadvertently spreading cancer in patients for decades. It includes first-person testimonies and archival footage and follows two married, Harvard-affiliated whistle-blowers who have been personally impacted by the procedure, as they campaign to expose the controversial practice and prevent future needless deaths.
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Content ArticleThis report looks at how the inaccurate use of the skin cleaning agent chlorhexidine in neonatal care caused severe chemical burns to a baby.
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Content ArticleIn this podcast episode, host Aaron Harmon speaks to Dr Neil Vargesson, chair in developmental biology at the University of Aberdeen, about the importance of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and why pre-clinical studies are key to keeping people safe. They discuss the history of Primodos, a hormone-based pregnancy test that was given to women between 1959 and 1978. It was developed before GLP and before standardised testing for teratogenesis (causing birth defects). There are data that suggests Primodos caused birth defects, but more questions remain.
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Content ArticleThis report looks at how when face-to-face midwife visits were replaced by virtual appointments during the Covid-19 pandemic, the health of the some babies deteriorated. Guidance has been amended to state that initial visits should be face-to-face.
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Content ArticleObstetric incidents can be catastrophic and life-changing, with related claims representing the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts’ (CNST) biggest area of spend. The Maternity Safety Strategy set out the Department of Health and Social Care’s ambition to reward those who have taken action to improve maternity safety supported through the Maternity Incentive Scheme. Year four of the Maternity Incentive Scheme launched on 9 August 2021. The scheme supports the delivery of safer maternity care through an incentive element to trust contributions to the CNST. The scheme, developed in partnership with the national maternity safety champions, Dr Matthew Jolly and Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE, rewards trusts that meet ten safety actions designed to improve the delivery of best practice in maternity and neonatal services. In the fourth year, the scheme will further incentivise the ten maternity safety actions from the previous year with some further refinement.
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Content ArticleThis report looks at several incidences of pregnant women with Covid-19 symptoms being sent to a maternity unit, when it would have been more appropriate for them to attend A&E. It highlights some confusion amongst health professionals and states that the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Infection in Pregnancy Guidance was updated to make care pathways clearer.
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Content ArticleThis article in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynaecology provides an interpretation of the 2014 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statement on power morcellation, a gynaecological procedure in which a device is used to slice up fibroid tissue for extraction through small incisions. Although use of power morcellation makes surgery less invasive, it has been shown to spread cancer if it exists within the patient's tissues. This article looks at the legal impact of the FDA statement, which warns against using laparoscopic power morcellators in the majority of women undergoing hysterectomy or myomectomy for uterine fibroids.
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Content ArticleThis case study looks at the issue of using ethyl chloride spray during fetal blood sampling procedures, which leaves a plastic residue on the babies scalp.
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Content ArticleThis case study looks at how plastic cord clamps used in caesarean sections are not visible on x-ray, which could be a patient safety issue.
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News Article
Mesh implant patients challenge government over surgery delays
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Women requiring the surgical removal of mesh implants have said "very little" has happened since a landmark Scottish government announcement in the summer. The pledge means patients can now receive free treatment from specialists in America and England. But campaigners said initial assessments in Glasgow were taking up to two years. The Scottish government said it was working with NHS Specialist Services to improve waiting times. Implant use was stopped in Scotland after hundreds of women were left with painful, life-changing side effects. In July, the Scottish government announced surgery and travel costs to Spire Health Care in Bristol and the Mercy Hospital in Missouri in the United States would be covered. The cost of each procedure is estimated to be £16,000 to £23,000. Marian Kenny, who is waiting on surgery to remove a mesh implant. joined the protest outside the New Victoria Hospital and admitted she felt "deflated" by the lack of progress in recent months. She told BBC Scotland: "For so much of this fight, we have been fighting to get it stopped and this is the only time we have been fighting for ourselves. We don't want to be guinea pigs any more." Health Secretary Humza Yousaf acknowledged the pain, suffering and distress mesh survivors have been through. He said he hoped to finalise contracts with the clinics in Bristol and Missouri "as quickly as we possibly can". Mr Yousaf added: "I would hope to have an update relatively soon. "I know they have been waiting too long and I promise them I don't want them to be waiting any longer than they have to." Read full story Source: BBC News, 24 November 2021 -
Content ArticleMind the Gap 2021 explores what training looked like for the maternity services workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how this relates to the factors that contribute to the avoidable harm and deaths of mothers, birthing people, and their babies. It is an ongoing piece of research by the charity Baby Lifeline. The report directly surveys recommendations from reports investigating avoidable harm and takes into account wider events affecting maternity care. Training is a central recommendation for improving safety in maternity services. Gaps which already existed in training due to chronic underfunding and staff shortages have become worse, and this report will give recommendations to improve training nationally and locally at a critical time for maternity.
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Content ArticleThe Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) is undertaking a project to look at the impact of the pandemic on gynaecology waiting lists. The work will look at the size and scale of waiting lists and at the impact this is having on those who are waiting longer for diagnosis and treatment, and on the wider health service. The College would like to hear from people whose gynaecology care has been affected by the pandemic. This might mean you have struggled to get an appointment with or a referral from your GP to see a gynaecologist, waited longer for tests or a scan to receive a diagnosis of a gynaecological condition, or waited longer for treatment or surgery. The College wants to understand your experiences of having a suspected or diagnosed gynaecological condition that isn’t cancer, as ‘benign’ gynaecological conditions are managed differently in the NHS. This could be for conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids, heavy periods, incontinence or recurrent urinary infections – anything you’d be referred to a gynaecologist for. You can access the survey through the link below.
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Event
RCOG Annual Professional Development Conference
Sam posted an event in Community Calendar
untilThe Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) Annual Professional Development Conference aims to provide an authoritative update on clinical issues and current affairs in women’s health. The theme of this year’s course is providing practical hands-on solutions to clinical problems. Featuring case discussions, debates and a chance to ‘stump the experts’, our carefully designed programme means expert speakers will give presentations suitable to colleagues working in all areas of O&G. Delivered entirely virtually, with all sessions available online, this event will be accessible to all. Learning objectives: Discover the latest advancements in the specialty from experts, which has been deliberately tailored for a diverse audience UK specialist societies will host parallel breakout sessions, giving you the opportunity to personalise your experience based on your own specialist interests Hear more about the latest College activities through informal discussions with RCOG Officers Register -
Content ArticleThis report from the National Maternity and Perinatal Audit assesses care inequalities using data from births between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2018 across England, Scotland and Wales. The National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA) is led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in partnership with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
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Content ArticleIn this article, Dr Ivan Ramos-Galvez, Consultant in Pain Medicine at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, discusses the physical and psychological issues that can arise following surgery for pelvic mesh implants. Dr Ramoz-Galvez highlights that around a third of reported complications are systemic symptoms such as runny nose, muscle pain, brain fog and lethargy, which may be the result of a chronic inflammatory state within the body. Their link to pelvic mesh implants is suggested by the fact that many women report that these symptoms resolve after their implant is removed. He also discusses the wide-ranging impact of pelvic mesh side effects for women who experience them, highlighting that the consequences are not only physical, but also psychological, social and financial. He calls for the medical profession to recognise this and develop treatments that cover all aspects of pelvic mesh complications.
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News Article"What has happened to us is home-grown, institutionalised female genital mutilation," says Mary Lodato, 63, a mother of three and a university researcher, from Kettering in Northamptonshire. "It has been a systemic failure in health and care and it was totally avoidable." What Mary is referring to are complications due to implanted surgical mesh, designed to treat post-childbirth pelvic damage in women, which has left thousands effectively crippled as the material disintegrated inside their bodies, and sheared into the tissue, causing a range of devastating symptoms including pain, difficulty walking and sexual dysfunction. An eight-year Good Health campaign to get official recognition of the problem led to the establishment of a government inquiry under the leadership of former Conservative health minister Baroness Julia Cumberlege. Although the inquiry report was published in July 2020, some of its key recommendations have still not been implemented, leaving thousands of women suffering and not getting the help they need. Seven specialist NHS mesh removal clinics were meant to open in April this year in London, Cambridge, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and Leicester. But the affected women claim a shortage of specialists has meant that only two are functioning — at University College London Hospital and Southmead Hospital in Bristol (which was not on the original list). They also say that it's extremely difficult to get a referral to one of these new centres and even if they do, waiting times can stretch into years. "To the doctors who originally treated us, these operations weren't anything major — but to us it was a catastrophically painful loss of work, family life and intimacy," says Mary. Mary's story is one familiar to almost 10,000 women who have joined an anti-mesh group called Sling the Mesh, and a number of other support organisations. Read full story Source: Mail Online, 1 November 2021 Blogs from Kath Sansom, Sling the Mesh Regulatory flaws: Women were catastrophically failed in the mesh, Primodos and Sodium Valproate tragedies Ineffective medical device recalls are a patient safety scandal
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Content ArticlePoppy Harris was born at Milton Keynes University hospital on 23 November 2020. Following a protracted labour, she was delivered using Kielland's forceps. She was transferred to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where it was discovered that she had suffered a spinal cord injury and despite all efforts and care she died on 24 March 2021.
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Content Article
RCOG: Recurrent miscarriage guidelines (19 October 2021)
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Maternity
A new medical guideline has been released for consultation by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, bringing together all the available evidence on possible risks and causes of recurrent miscarriage, potential treatment options, management of subsequent pregnancies and best practice in supportive care. The new draft Recurrent Miscarriage guideline – last published in 2011 – supports a move towards a graded model of care where women are provided with individualised care earlier. In the UK, women can only access support after they have experienced three miscarriages in a row. The new approach would see women offered information and guidance to support future pregnancies after one miscarriage, an appointment at a miscarriage clinic for initial investigations after two miscarriages, and a full series of evidence-based investigations and care – as described in this guideline - after three miscarriages. -
News ArticleHRT used to be a dirty word. Now it’s a battle cry. Women will begathering in Parliament Square in London later this month to support the menopause bill to demand free prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy in England. The bill could help thousands more women to access this life-changing treatment and will put the menopause under the microscope. For years, a combination of medical sexism, hysterical reporting and outdated science has held women back from asking for the health care they need. HRT replenishes the oestrogen, progesterone (and sometimes testosterone) that women lose when having the menopause. As a result of previous misleading reports linking the treatment to a risk of breast cancer and dementia, HRT has long been considered controversial. Last week, however, a BMJ paper studying more than 100,000 HRT users over two decades in the UK found that there was no overall association between hormone replacement and an increased risk of developing dementia. Meanwhile, the science lumping the many different types of HRT together in one “causes-breast-cancer” basket is being questioned by menopause experts. A sexist, ageist culture has kept the menopause – and the stigma associated with it – hidden for decades. In a TUC survey of 4,000 women, 85% said the menopause affected their working life. Many women have lost their health, jobs, relationships and even their lives at the time of their menopause, when rates of suicide peak. But now, Labour MP Carolyn Harris is pushing the second reading of her menopause bill through parliament later this month. Aside from making HRT free in England (it’s already free in Scotland and Wales), the bill will also cover broader issues around menopause rights and education, particularly in the workplace. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 6 October 2021
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Content ArticleOn Friday 17 September 2021 the World Health Organization (WHO) held their World Patient Safety Day 2021 Virtual Global Conference, focused on the theme of ‘Safe maternal and newborn care’. This page contains links to a number of presentations from the event.
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Content ArticleThis blog in The BMJ Opinion by Steph O'Donohue, content and engagement manager at Patient Safety Learning, looks at the benefits and potential risks of the midwifery continuity of carer model. Steph highlights that seeing the same midwife throughout pregnancy and during labour allows patient and midwife to build a relationship of trust and results in improved outcomes for patients and their babies. She argues that patients and families would be more vocal advocates for continuity of carer if they better understood the benefits of the model. Further reading: Midwifery Continuity of Carer: What does good look like?' Midwifery Continuity of Carer: Frontline insights The benefits of Continuity of Carer: a midwife’s personal reflection
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News Article
TikTok video of IUD removal at home prompts warning from health authorities
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A TikTok user who went viral with a video of herself removing her implanted birth control device has prompted calls among sexual health experts for better monitoring of social media platforms. In a video which has gained over 178,000 likes, TikTok user Mikkie Gallagher is filmed performing a ‘DIY IUD removal’ wearing medical gloves, writing on top of the post: “A lot easier than I thought TBH,” and “Catch of the day: Mirena IUD, 2 inches”. An intrauterine device (IUD) is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy and sometimes assist in relieving period pain. They usually need to be taken out every five to 10 years depending on the type. Women can choose when to have them removed. Family Planning Victoria CEO, Claire Vissenga, said she found it very concerning that “DIY could pass as healthcare or professional assistance”. “... it’s just a ridiculous thing to do. Removing an IUD potentially does physical damage, and could complicate contraception,” says Vissenga Family Planning medical director, Kathleen McNamee, said 80% of DIY IUD removals failed, leading to GP or emergency visits. “If the person dislodges the IUD in a failed attempt, it could no longer be effective as a contraceptive method and result in an unwanted pregnancy,” she said. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 24 September 2021 -
News ArticleA woman with stage 4 endometriosis said she was told she needed to "be more positive" before her diagnosis - despite heavy blood loss and pain. Anna Cooper, from Newbridge, Wrexham, started her periods at 11 and by the time she turned 14, her mother was pushing for a referral. Since then she has had 13 surgeries, with a 14th due in the coming months. She said: "It is not taken seriously enough. It seems to be that we are just not being heard at the minute." Watch video Source: BBC News, 9 September 2021
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Content Article
World Patient Safety Day 2021
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Maternity
In this blog Patient Safety Learning marks World Patient Safety Day 2021. It sets out the scale of avoidable harm in healthcare, what needs to change to create a patient safe future and considers the theme of this year’s World Patient Safety Day, ‘Safe maternal and newborn care’. -
Content ArticleThe aim of this qualitative study, published in Midwifery, was to examine how (UK and Australian based) midwifery students, who self-identify as having been bullied, perceive the repercussions on women and their families.
