Patient safety

Patient safety alert on risks arising from breakdown and failure to act on communication during handover at the time of discharge from secondary care

A patient safety alert has been issued by NHS England as part of its work to improve the quality and timeliness of communication with primary and social care when patients are discharged from hospital. NHS England is asking organisations for information about their current local practices and challenges that will help form a national picture […]

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Risk of inadvertently cutting in-line (closed) suction catheters

A stage one warning has been issued on the risk of inadvertently cutting in-line (closed) suction catheters. The alert has been issued to all NHS hospitals and community services in England that use in-line or closed suction systems as part of patient care. Risk of inadvertently cutting in-line (closed) suction catheters This follows a recent […]

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Dr Mike Durkin’s letter to the Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph has published a letter from NHS England’s Director of Patient Safety, Dr Mike Durkin, in response to their article about how Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle addresses patient safety reporting. The article describes how ten years ago, inspired by ways car workers in Japan were helped when they were struggling, the hospital […]

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Joint statement in response to the Jimmy Savile investigations: NHS England, NHS Trust Development Authority, Care Quality Commission and Monitor

The abusive behaviour of Jimmy Savile on NHS premises described in today’s reports is truly awful. Our sympathy is with all the victims and we acknowledge their bravery in coming forward to talk to the investigations. Patients and the public have a right to expect that whenever they are under the care of the NHS they are safe […]

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Sign up to Safety

Today, the Secretary of State for Health launched a new campaign to make the NHS the safest healthcare system in the world, building on the recommendations of the Berwick Advisory Group. The campaign has set out a three-year shared objective to save 6,000 lives and halve avoidable harm as part of our journey towards ensuring […]

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Public Health England and NHS England patient safety alert on Legionella and heated birthing pools filled in advance of labour in home settings

Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England have issued  a patient safety alert (17 June) temporarily advising against the use in the home of birthing pools with built-in heaters and recirculation pumps, potentially filled up to two weeks in advance of the birth. This follows a single case of Legionnaires’ disease identified in a baby […]

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