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Content ArticleDavid Lawson, who leads the Department of Health and Social Care medtech directorate, outlines how the medtech strategy will be implemented with patients.
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Content ArticlePatients in seclusion in mental health services require regular physical health assessments to identify, prevent and manage clinical deterioration. Sometimes it may be unsafe or counter-therapeutic for clinical staff to enter the seclusion room, making it challenging to meet local seclusion standards for physical assessments. Alternatives to standard clinical assessment models are required in such circumstances to assure high quality and safe care. The primary aim of this study was to improve the quality of physical health monitoring by making accurate vital sign measurements more frequently available. It also aimed to explore the clinical experience of integrating a technological innovation with routine clinical care. The results showed that the non-contact monitoring device enabled a 12 fold increase overall in the monitoring of physical health observations when compared to a real-world baseline rate of checks. Enhancement to standard clinical care varied according to patient movement levels. Patients, carers and staff expressed positive views towards the integration of the technological intervention.
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News Article
ChatGPT could help reduce A&E wait times
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
ChatGPT could be used to diagnose patients in a bid to reduce waiting times in emergency departments, researchers have suggested. It comes after a study found the language model, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), “performed well” in generating a list of diagnoses for patients and suggesting the most likely option. Researchers in the Netherlands entered the records of 30 patients who visited an emergency department in 2022, as well as anonymous doctors’ notes, into ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4.0. The AI analysis was compared to two clinicians who made a diagnosis based on the same information, both with and without laboratory data. When lab data was included, doctors had the correct answer in their top five differential diagnoses in 87% of cases, compared with 97% for ChatGPT 3.5 and 87% for ChatGPT 4.0. There was a 60% overlap between the differential diagnoses by clinicians and ChatGPT. The team said that while ChatGPT was “able to suggest medical diagnoses much like a human doctor would”, more work is needed before it is applied in the real world. Read full story Source: The Independent, 13 September 2023 -
Content Article
This is part of our series of Patient Safety Spotlight interviews, where we talk to people working for patient safety about their role and what motivates them. James talks to us about the value of patient feedback in boosting morale and enabling organisations to make real patient safety improvements. He also describes the power of the unique perspective patients have on safety, and asks how we can use this insight to shift culture and provide safer care. -
Content ArticlePatients and families are key partners in diagnosis, but there are few methods to routinely engage them in diagnostic safety. Policy mandating patient access to electronic health information presents new opportunities, and in this study, researchers tested a new online tool—OurDX—that was codesigned with patients and families. The study aimed to determine the types and frequencies of potential safety issues identified by patients with chronic health conditions and their families and whether their contributions were integrated into the visit note. The results showed that probable Diagnostic Safety Opportunities (DSOs) were identified by 7.5% of paediatric and adult patients with underlying health conditions or their families. Among patients reporting diagnostic concerns, 63% were verified as probable DSOs. The most common types of DSOs were patients or families not feeling heard, problems or delays with tests or referrals and problems or delays with explanation or next steps. In chart review, most clinician notes included all or some patient/family priorities and patient-reported histories. The researchers concluded that OurDX can help engage patients and families living with chronic health conditions in diagnosis. Participating patients and families identified DSOs and most of their OurDX contributions were included in the visit note.
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Content ArticleThe NHS.uk website averaged over 2,000 visitors per minute in 2022 and, while websites are hardly considered cutting edge, this technology is important to help make trusted and reliable health and care knowledge easily accessible to patients and the public. Web-based information, alongside access to medical records and personalised care initiatives, means people are potentially more informed to make decisions and be actively involved in their own care. However simply having access to information doesn’t necessarily make it useable.
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Content ArticleThe horrifying case of neonatal nurse Lucy Letby, convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital, has raised hard questions for NHS leaders about how organisations respond to concerns about staff, but could digital systems help detect NHS staff who harm patients at an earlier point? If the pattern connecting Letby to the babies’ deaths had been detected by a digital system, would the response from the trust have been different? Would a machine have been believed? Alison Leary, chair of healthcare and workforce modelling at London South Bank University and a leading expert on nursing and data, suggests there is potentially a much bigger role for digital in patient safety.
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Content ArticleDelirium is a common but underdiagnosed state of disturbed attention and cognition that afflicts one in four older hospital inpatients. It is independently associated with a longer length of hospital stay, mortality, accelerated cognitive decline and new-onset dementia. Risk stratification models enable clinicians to identify patients at high risk of an adverse event and intervene where appropriate. The advent of wearables, genomics, and dynamic datasets within electronic health records (EHRs) provides big data to which machine learning (ML) can be applied to individualise clinical risk prediction. ML is a subset of artificial intelligence that uses advanced computer programmes to learn patterns and associations within large datasets and develop models (or algorithms), which can then be applied to new data in rapidly producing predictions or classifications, including diagnoses. The objectives of this review from Strating et al. were to: (1) provide a more contemporary overview of research on all ML delirium prediction models designed for use in the inpatient setting; (2) characterise them according to their stage of development, validation and deployment; and (3) assess the extent to which their performance and utility in clinical practice have been evaluated.
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Content ArticleHealthcare is where the "most exciting" opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) lie, an influential MP has said, but is also an area where the technology's major risks are illustrated. Greg Clark, chairman of the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee (SITC), said the wider adoption of AI in healthcare would have a "positive impact", but urged policy makers to "consider the risks to safety". He said: "If we're to gain all the advantages, we have to anticipate the risks and put in place measures to safeguard against that." An interim report published by the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee sets out the Committee’s findings from its inquiry so far, and the twelve essential challenges that AI governance must meet if public safety and confidence in AI are to be secured.
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News Article
Flu jab IT system to be ‘switched off’ weeks before vaccine programme starts
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
All tech support for flu and covid vaccinations will be switched off on Thursday after NHS England decided against extending its contract with its supplier in favour of developing an in-house system, according to HSJ. NHSE last week told suppliers System C and Graphnet it would not extend the contract for the National Immunisation Management Service – just one week before the contract ends. NIMS, provided by the two British firms in partnership with NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit, has been used for the last three years to manage the vaccination programme. Its functionalities include a single data store holding vaccination records for more than 60 million people, a call and recall service that can identify and contact groups of eligible individuals according to age and clinical priority, and reporting and analysing of vaccination activity in “near real time”. NHSE informed System C it would not extend the contract last Thursday – five working days before it was due to expire, according to a message from System C to customers, seen by HSJ. In its message, System C said: “This means that all functionality, including the NIMS application programming interface links to third party booking systems, all outgoing feeds and extracts, NIMS dashboards and the point of vaccination data capture application will stop working after 31 August.” There is currently “significant usage” of the system by GPs and trusts, which means NIMS users “may need to take action to deal with the retirement of the system” – the message stated. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 30 August 2023 -
News Article
Trust reviewing 31,000 patients ‘lost’ by IT system
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A trust has had to re-examine the cases of more than 31,000 patients after they were automatically and wrongly discharged from its care because they did not have another appointment within the next six months. Dartford and Gravesham Trust in Kent has revealed that soaring waiting times post-covid meant patients who needed follow-up appointments were not offered them within six months, which before covid was a very unusual occurrence. When they passed six months, they were dropped off waiting lists altogether, due to a feature in the trust’s patient administration system designed to ensure outdated pathways are closed. It is a common feature in many such systems, HSJ was told. The trust has now “validated” more than 31,000 patients who have been in contact with it since 1 September 2021. So far, it said, it had not found evidence of harm, although some people have been recalled for clinical review or investigation, and a small number are still to be seen. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 22 August 2023 -
Content ArticleThis investigation aims to improve patient safety by supporting healthcare staff in a surgical setting to select and insert the appropriate type of implant (vascular graft) for haemodialysis treatment. The Healthcare and Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) explored the factors that affect the ability of staff to safely select and insert vascular grafts for haemodialysis treatment. The national investigation focused on: The identification of factors within the healthcare system as a whole that influence patient safety risks associated with the selection and insertion of vascular grafts in an operating theatre environment. Exploration, using a systems approach, of the design of labelling and packaging used for the different types of vascular grafts for patients on haemodialysis treatment. Exploration of the impact on operating theatre teams of staff redeployment and repurposing of working environments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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News ArticleThe adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) by the NHS should be faster, and more frameworks should be in place to get emerging technologies to as many patients as possible, experts have told MPs. A number of senior figures from medicine and biotechnology gave evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee as part of its inquiry into cancer technology. Stephen Duffy, a professor of cancer screening at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health at Queen Mary University of London, told MPs there is “strong potential” for AI, particularly in areas such as reading mammograms for the breast screening programme. However, he warned that there will be “staff issues in terms of the number of staff needed to double-read mammograms”. He added: “Those issues aren’t going away. It seems to me that AI systems have already been shown to be very good in terms of detection of cancer on from mammograms, so they’re safe in that respect. Read full story Source: The Independent, 19 July 2023
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News Article
NHS is ‘tech averse healthcare system’, says ex-government adviser
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
A cut to the NHS tech budget, revealed by HSJ, has been described as “pretty outrageous” by a former government adviser and eminent medical leader. Sir John Bell, an immunologist and geneticist and regius chair of medicine at Oxford University, made the comments in a talk at the Tony Blair Institute’s Future of Britain conference. NHSE’s cut to its tech budget was attributed to having to divert the money to fund spending growth, and some other inflationary costs, without receiving extra from government. At the time, NHSE said the service “remains firmly committed to our digital strategy from supporting hospitals to adopt electronic patient record systems to transforming how patients access NHS services through the NHS App”. But Sir John said: “The NHS is a technology averse healthcare system.” He said NHS spending on medicines was “much lower than peers and if you look at our access to technology – like MRI and CR scanners – we’re right at the back. We just don’t do it.” He added that rapid tech development and adoption was needed particularly to enable mass early diagnosis of diseases, and new treatment therapies. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 18 July 2023 -
Content ArticleThis free eGuide will aid your strategic communications design, and show you how you can develop strategic communications that support and educate populations and patients to make better lifestyle decisions and live healthier lives. In the eGuide, you’ll discover: Why is behavioural change critical for prevention? What are the fundamental elements of strategic healthcare communications. How to develop your vision for patient activation communications to become a reality. The guide is free, but you will need to submit your details download the Apteco guide from their website.
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EventuntilHETT 2023 will explore the systems and infrastructure that underpin and enable a data-driven NHS, supporting the ecosystem to deliver patient outcomes through the meaningful implementation of technology. Register
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News Article
Robots-led surgeries could boost efficiency and free up beds, say surgeons
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Using robots to assist in operations could make surgery more efficient and free up NHS beds, a report has suggested. The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has published a guide: Robotic Assisted Surgery – a pathway to the future; exploring the potential benefits and challenges of the technology. It said the document “provides a structured pathway” for surgeons who want to transition to robotic-assisted surgery, which allows doctors to operate with more precision using interactive, mechanical arms. The report outlined “significant advantages” of using robots in surgery, including reduced post-op pain, fewer blood transfusions, more efficient use of anaesthetics and shorter hospital stays for patients. There are also benefits when it comes to patient safety, the college said, with platforms eliminating tremors and providing a magnified image of the surgical site. Read full story Source: The Independent, 14 July 2023 -
Content ArticleUsing new technologies in the NHS could bring multiple benefits. They could save healthcare professionals’ time, increase the number of people a skilled professional can support, and enable more sustainable workforce models. At the same time, they can promote safer and more personalised care. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have published their latest Collection brings together NIHR research demonstrating how digital technology can improve care while reducing the demands on staff.
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Content ArticleWhat exactly is machine learning and how is it being used in healthcare? Are machines always better than a person? How do we know? In this interview, Patient Safety managing editor, Caitlyn Allen asks these questions of artificial intelligence healthcare researcher Dr Avishek Choudhury.
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Content ArticleErrors in patient identification have implications for patient care and safety, payment, as well as data sharing and interoperability. Different patient identification techniques ranging from unique patient identifiers and algorithms to hybrid models have been implemented worldwide. However, no current patient identification techniques have resulted in a 100% match rate. This study by Riplinger et al. identified some of the challenges associated with improper patient identification. The literature review showed six common patient identification techniques implemented worldwide ranging from unique patient identifiers, algorithmic approaches, referential matching software, biometrics, radio frequency identification device (RFID) systems, and hybrid models. The review revealed three themes associated with unresolved patient identification: 1) treatment, care delivery, and patient safety errors, 2) cost and resource considerations, and 3) data sharing and interoperability challenges.
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News Article
Tony Blair urges expanded role for private sector as NHS turns 75
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The NHS must undergo radical change or it will continue to decline and lose public support, Tony Blair has argued on the service’s 75th anniversary. It must embrace a revolution in technology to reshape its relationship with patients and make much more use of private healthcare providers to cut waiting times, the former Labour prime minister says. The prevalence of chronic health conditions, long waiting times, the NHS’s stretched workforce and tight public finances in the years ahead mean the service must transform how it operates, he said. “The NHS now requires fundamental reform or, eventually, support for it will diminish. As in the 1990s, the NHS must either change or decline,” he writes in the foreword to a new report from his Tony Blair Institute thinktank, which sets out ideas for safeguarding the NHS’s future. He adds: “Change is never easy and requires brave political leadership. If we do not act, the NHS will continue down a path of decline, to the detriment of our people and our economy.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 5 July 2023 -
Content ArticleAs the NHS is approaching its 75th birthday, this report from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change proposes how the NHS needs to transform if it is to survive.
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Content ArticleVideo of the 10th Annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit presentations. The event fostered a high-level exchange of ideas and initiatives to improve global patient safety with expert speakers and panelists, inspiring messages from hospital executives, and the sharing of tragic patient stories. The programme ignited further momentum to reach ZERO harm. You can view all the speaker presentations by clicking on the image below. There is also a link to the Patient Safety Movement Foundation website with all the presentations at the end of the page.
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News Article
Smartwatches may provide early Parkinson's diagnosis
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Smartwatches might help diagnose Parkinson's disease up to seven years ahead of symptoms, a study suggests. The UK Dementia Research Institute team at Cardiff University used artificial intelligence to analyse data from 103,712 smartwatch wearers. By tracking their speed of movement over a single week, between 2013 and 2016, they were able to predict which would go on to develop Parkinson's. It is hoped this could ultimately be used as a screening tool. But more studies, comparing these findings with other data gathered around the world, are needed to check how accurate it will be, the researchers say, in the journal Nature Medicine. Read full story Source: BBC News, 3 July 2023 -
Content Article
NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (30 June 2023)
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in NHS England
The first comprehensive workforce plan for the NHS, putting staffing on a sustainable footing and improving patient care. It focuses on retaining existing talent and making the best use of new technology alongside the biggest recruitment drive in health service history.
