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Content ArticleLeeds Hospital NHS Trust has developed a range of patient leaflets. These leaflets inform patients and relatives about the changes to their care and different processes during the pandemic.
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Content Article
Community Engagement Studio Toolkit
Claire Cox posted an article in How to engage for patient safety
This 53-page document provides guidance for engaging stakeholders in reviewing and providing feedback to the investigator on specific areas of concern before a research project is implemented. The objective is to strengthen research proposals. The process involves a community engagement studio, which operates like a focus group but with key differences. This model and toolkit were developed by the Meharry-Vanderbilt Community Engaged Research Core, a program of the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. -
News Article
How to support loved ones in hospital during the coronavirus pandemic
Clive Flashman posted a news article in News
To help stop the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the majority of hospitals have stopped or severely restricted visits. This article explains how you can still help a loved one even when you can't see them face to face. During the coronavirus crisis, most hospitals and care homes in the UK have stopped visits. If you have a loved one in a healthcare setting, not being able to go to see them will be incredibly difficult. But these temporary measures have not been taken lightly. Restricting visits to hospitals and care homes is important to reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 as much as possible. This way hospital and care home residents, and healthcare staff, can be better protected during the pandemic. Read the full article here -
Content ArticleThis bedside guide, from the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, is intended for the use of all healthcare staff who are looking after adult patients with tracheostomies. The tasks described should not be attempted by those who have not received training or been deemed as competent in tracheostomy care and management. This guide includes posters, checklists and practical resources to aid the safe care of patients with tracheostomies.
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Content ArticleResearch by the British Medical Association (BMA) concludes that over a million planned operations and treatments as well as over twenty thousand cancer treatments have been cancelled or delayed between April and the end of June this year because of the pandemic. The Association’s research also estimates that more than two and a half million first time outpatient appointments were cancelled during the same time period. This paper coincides with the BMA’s latest survey of 5,905 doctors in England and Wales, asking about the impact of the pandemic on their patients and their working lives. As part of the survey, they were asked if, within the last week, they had treated patients with conditions at a later stage (e.g. cancer, heart disease) than they would normally expect. A little over 40% said that they had. Behind this data are the scores of patients whose routine surgery or procedure has been put aside in the rush to reconfigure the NHS to cope with COVID-19. Even worse, doctors know there are those whose illnesses are far more serious than they were, some now beyond cure.
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Content ArticleProviding patients with access to electronic health records (EHRs) may improve quality of care by providing patients with their personal health information, and involving them as key stakeholders in the self-management of their health and disease. With the widespread use of these digital solutions, there is a growing need to evaluate their impact, in order to better understand their risks and benefits, and to inform health policies that are both patient-centred and evidence-based. The main objective of this systematic review from Neves et al. was to assess the impact of these interventions on the six dimensions of quality of care. The findings suggest that providing patients with access to EHRs can improve patient safety and effectiveness
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Content ArticleIn this issue of Patient Experience you can find topics discussed by the people who are living inside the health and care systems and are sharing their stories.
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Content ArticleWhen patients give feedback to healthcare providers, the topic of "communication" often features prominently. That is because when people are feeling vulnerable, the way they are spoken to, and the words that are used, matter a great deal. There can be few experiences that are more distressing than the death of a baby. So we need to think very carefully about how bereaved parents are spoken to. This paper looks at clinical terms such as "miscarriage", "stillbirth" and "neo-natal death" and finds that "These categorisations based on gestational age and signs of life may not align with the realities of parental experience". This study, published by the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, explored the healthcare experiences of parents whose babies had died just before 24 weeks of gestation. Those interviewed "felt strongly that describing their loss as a "miscarriage" was inappropriate and did not adequately describe their lived experience".
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Content Article"Over half of the disease burden in England is deemed preventable", says this report, "with one in five deaths attributed to causes that could have been avoided". It notes however, that progress has stalled on reducing the number of people with preventable illness and that compared to other high-income countries, we are underperforming. The authors call for a paradigm shift in prevention policy, from interventions that "blame and punish" to those that "empathise and assist". Regressive taxes and bans have not, they say, delivered the transformation required. Key to any new prevention strategy is the online information environment. Over 60% of British adults use the internet to check symptoms or self-diagnose, with the NHS website considered to be the most trustworthy. There is also, however, a "pernicious prevalence of false information". Polling shows that less than half of the population believe obesity is linked to cancer (misinformation), while over a third either agree that vaccinations can cause autism, or say they don't know (disinformation).
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News ArticleUrgent cancer referrals were "inappropriately" rejected by hospitals during the coronavirus lockdown without tests being carried out, GPs have said. Cancer Research UK said the findings from a survey of more than 1,000 GPs were "alarming", warning that patients whose lives may be at risk were being left "in limbo". Family doctors were surveyed in June and asked what had happened to patients they had referred to hospitals for tests in the month to that point because cancer was suspected. A quarter of GPs said urgent referrals had been inappropriately turned down by hospitals more often than had been the case before the pandemic. Four in 10 said that, when tests were refused, patients had been left without proper checks to see whether their case could safely be left without investigation. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Telegraph, 8 July 2020
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Content Article
Premature discharge from hospital (June 2020)
Claire Cox posted an article in Keeping patients safe
This is a report of a qualitative survey that explored unsafe, premature discharge from hospital. The Patients Association has regularly heard from helpline callers that patients believed that they had been discharged too early from hospital,and that as a result they had either suffered harm or been at risk of harm. -
Content ArticleThis is a true story of ordinary people showing extraordinary determination and courage in the face of adversity. It is an unconventional, honest and deeply personal attempt to bring what has been hidden into the light for all to see. Alison was a vulnerable mentally ill patient taken advantage of by an older male nurse. She became pregnant and a crisis abortion was arranged by staff at the mental health hospital. Alison took her life on what would have been her child's third birthday. Though the names are known, no one has ever been held accountable for the crimes committed against her. Alison and her family have been lied to and failed by the NHS, the Police and Crown Prosecution Service. While this book pays tribute to the many leaderless heroes on the frontline of health services, it is scathing about the lack of honesty and integrity in their leaders and managers. This is a story of the abuse of power, the hiding of wrongdoing, and a quest for truth, accountability and justice that is not yet over.
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News Article
Hospital ratings often depend more on nice rooms than on health care
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A study of 50,000 patients throughout the United States showed that those who were the most satisfied with their care (the top quartile) were 26% more likely to be dead six months later than patients who gave lower ratings to their care. The study, “The Cost of Satisfaction,” appeared in JAMA Internal Medicine. The researchers looked at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital data and patient surveys at more than 3,000 US hospitals over three years. The hospitals where fewer patients died had only a 2% point edge in patient satisfaction over the others. Cristobal Young, associate professor of sociology at Cornell University and lead author of the study, calls it “the halo effect of hospitality.” Young found that what mattered most to patients in ratings were the compassion of nurses and amenities like good food and quiet rooms. It’s why hospital managers are being recruited from the service industry and we’re seeing greeters in the lobby and premium TV channels in rooms, he says. Patients tend to value what they see and understand, but that can be limited, Young continues. They give hospitals good cleanliness ratings when they observe waste baskets are emptied and sheets are changed. “They can’t see a virus or tell you how clean the room is in ways that matter,” he says. Read full story Source: 4 July 2020, Washington Post -
News Article
Third of frail hospital leavers in England find post-discharge care lacking
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Problems with hospital discharges in England, highlighted in the largest annual patient survey, reinforce the need for greater integration between health and social care, the sector regulator has said. The Care Quality Commission inpatient survey found that a majority of patients were positive about their hospital care but a significant minority experienced problems on discharge. A third of respondents who were frail said the care and support they expected when they left hospital was not available when they needed it. Three in 10 frail people said they had not had discussions with staff about the need for further health and social care services they might require post-discharge. Four in 10 of all patients surveyed left hospital without printed or written information about what they should or should not do after discharge, and the same proportion said their discharge was delayed. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 2 July 2020 -
Content Article
Restrictive Practice Guide
Claire Cox posted an article in Mental health
Restrictive interventions are deliberate acts on the part of other person(s) that restrict a patient’s movement, liberty and/or freedom to act independently in order to: 'Take immediate control of a dangerous situation where there is a real possibility of harm to the person or others if no action is undertaken, and end or reduce significantly the danger to the patient or others.' This guide, from the Advancing Quality Alliance (AQuA) has been developed to provide a brief overview of restrictive practice and the legislation that underpins it and outline ways to reduce its use during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. -
Content ArticleIn this blog, published by In Health Associates, David Gilbert discusses some of the frustrations that he has with NHS Trusts who say they want patient involvement but pay lip service or who decline offers of help. This blog invites you to comment, to discuss and debate this issue. David Gilbert is a patient director at Sussex MSK Partnership. This is a new and pioneering role in the NHS. David has strategic leadership of how the Partnership relates with patients, carers and the communities they serve, including: learning from what people think of our services (patient experience) patients as partners in care decisions (Information, choice and shared-decision making) helping people look after themselves and care for their own condition (supported self-management) patients as partners for change (patient and public engagement; patient leadership).
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News Article
New tool could be used to identify those most at risk from coronavirus
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A new risk tool could be used to identify those most at threat from COVID-19, so GPs can give patients tailored advice, health officials have said. Scientists at Oxford University are working on a clinical risk prediction model, which aims to give individuals more precise information about the likely impact of the disease on them, instead of a blanket approach. Health officials said the plans aimed to allow “very individualised discussions” between patients and their doctors, in the event of future outbreaks, particularly as winter approaches. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Telegraph, 23 June 2020 -
Content Article
ISoP: Using medicines safely during the COVID-19 pandemic
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Guidance
The International Society of Pharmacovigilance share their first infographic for patients and carers on using medicines safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. They developed the tool because of the difficulties experienced with obtaining and using medicines safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. -
Content Article
Top 10 tips for communicating a diagnosis of mesothelioma
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Cancers
RADIO Meso (Receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma) is a research project, funded by Mesothelioma UK and being carried out by researchers at the University of Sheffield. The project aims to identify ways to improve the patient and family carer experience of receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma. The researchers carried out interviews with people with mesothelioma and their family members. Additional consultation was conducted with health professionals involved in communicating a mesothelioma diagnosis. People attending a group event at the Mesothelioma UK Patient and Carer Day also contributed their experiences and views regarding diagnosis communication. They were asked to recall their own experience and to tell the team ‘what went well?’ and ‘what could have been better?’. Following analysis the researchers identified key themes and developed ‘ten Top Tips’ for communicating a mesothelioma diagnosis. -
Content ArticleCaring for people with learning disabilities in an acute hospital setting can be challenging, especially if that patient has transitioned from children’s services to adult services. The experience in children’s acute care differs to adult acute care; this difference in processes of care can cause great anxiety for the patient and their family and carers. The reasonable adjustments that were perhaps made and sustained in children’s services may now not exist. The purpose of this blog is to demonstrate the importance for services to be designed around patients’ needs with patients, families and carers. If we get this right, the quality of care given will be improved, patient satisfaction increases and, in turn, a reduction in patient harm. It is important to note that designing services around patients is not exclusive to learning disabilities; designing services with ALL patients at the centre with their involvement is crucial for trusts to provide safe care.
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Content ArticleInadequate medication adherence is a widespread problem that contributes to increased chronic disease complications and healthcare expenditures. Packaging interventions using pill boxes and blister packs have been widely recommended to address the medication adherence issue. This meta-analysis review from Conn et al. determined the overall effect of packaging interventions on medication adherence and health outcomes. In addition, the authors tested whether effects vary depending on intervention, sample, and design characteristics. Overall, meta-analysis findings support the use of packaging interventions to effectively increase medication adherence.
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News ArticleWhen Dan Scoble came down with the coronavirus in March, all the classic symptoms landed in one fell swoop. “I had everything under the sun: a fever, temperature, fatigue and chest pain,” he said. “My head felt like a balloon.” The 22-year-old, a personal trainer from Oxford who normally breezed through 10-mile runs, suddenly found himself bed-bound. He presumed it would soon blow over, but 12 weeks after falling ill as the country went into lockdown, he is still not back to normal. Dan has left his house just five times in three months — twice to see his GP and three times to hospital. He still suffers from crippling fatigue, recurrent migraines and a persistent sore throat, as well as abdominal and musculoskeletal pain. Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 14 June 2020
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Content ArticleStress urinary incontinence is when you leak urine accidentally, especially during exercise or when you cough, laugh or sneeze. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced a diagram that shows what treatments NICE recommends as options for managing stress urinary incontinence. If you have tried to manage your condition without surgery, but this hasn’t worked, you might like to think about surgery. This decision aid can help you and your surgeon decide together which type of surgery is best for you. You might also decide that you don’t want to have any surgery. It is important to make the choice that you feel is right for you. This will depend on your individual circumstances and how you feel about each type of surgery. Every woman is different, so this decision aid is only a guide. Information about how this decision aid was produced and the evidence on which it is based is available on the NICE website.
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News Article
Patients received ‘derogatory’ treatment at women’s unit
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Inspectors have placed a women’s mental health service into special measures after patients were said to have been subjected to “inappropriate” and “derogatory” treatment by staff. St Andrew’s Healthcare, which runs the women’s inpatient facility in Northampton, has received a series of damning reports among its services over the past two years. The inspectors noted during visits between February and March that staff reportedly used language to describe patients on a medium secure ward such as “self-harmers”, “attention seeking”, and “kicking off”. Patients said staff used “inappropriate restraint techniques that caused pain” with reports they “bent the patient’s wrist and arm behind their back.” They also said staff spoke to them in a “derogatory manner, for example telling them to sort themselves out when engaging in self harm behaviour.” Inspectors rated the service “inadequate” overall, noting concerns elsewhere including “forensic failure incidents due to staff shortages”, that staff were not reporting all safeguarding concerns and that “managers did not ensure safe and clean environments in the long stay rehabilitation service and learning disability service.” Read full story Source: HSJ, 10 June 2020 -
News Article
Babylon apology after GP app lets patients see other people's consultations
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Babylon Health is investigating whether NHS patients were among those affected by a 'software error' that allowed people registered with its private GP service to view recordings of other people's consultations earlier this month. Babylon Health has confirmed that a small number of patients were able to view recordings of other patients' consultations earlier this week. The issue came to light after a patient in Leeds who had access to the Babylon app through a private health insurance plan with Bupa reported that he had been able to view around 50 consultations that were not his own. The patient told the BBC he was 'shocked' to discover the data breach. "You don't expect to see anything like that when you're using a trusted app," he said. "It's shocking to see such a monumental error has been made." Babylon told GPonline that the app used by private and NHS patients is the same, but it had yet to confirm whether the roughly 80,000 patients registered with the company's digital first NHS service GP at Hand were among those affected. The problem is understood to have cropped up when a new feature was introduced for patients who switched from audio to video mid-way through a consultation. Read full story Source: GPOnline, 10 June 2020
