Patient safety

Guidance issued on Hard Truths commitments regarding the publishing of staffing data

NHS England and the Care Quality Commission have issued joint guidance to Trusts on the delivery of the ‘Hard Truths’ commitments associated with publishing staffing data regarding nursing, midwifery and care staff levels. The guidance has been issued by Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England, and Professor Sir Mike Richards, Chief Inspector of Hospitals, […]

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Patient safety alert to improve reporting and learning of medication and medical devices incidents

NHS England and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have today jointly issued two patient safety alerts to help healthcare providers increase incident reporting for medication errors and medical devices. The alerts instruct providers to take specific steps that will improve data report quality; and will see the establishment of national networks to […]

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Improving medical device incident reporting and learning

The alert recommended changes to strengthen local clinical governance arrangements and the identification of Medical Devices Safety Officers (MDSOs) and multi-professional groups to review incidents and to improve the safety of medical devices. Improving medical device incident reporting and learning Improving medical device incident reporting and learning – supporting information Patient safety alerts are shared […]

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Improving medication error incident reporting and learning

The alert recommends changes to strengthen clinical governance arrangements, and the identification of medication safety officers (MSOs) and multi-professional groups to review medication error incidents and improve medication safety locally. Improving medication error incident reporting and learning Improving medication error incident reporting and learning – supporting information Patient safety alerts are shared rapidly with healthcare […]

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Addressing rising trends and outbreaks in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Prevent the spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Rising trends and outbreaks in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae Enterobacteriaceae are a large family of bacteria that usually live harmlessly in the gut of all humans and animals, but, in the wrong place, can cause serious infections. Worldwide, a small but increasing number of strains of Enterobacteriaceae have become resistant to […]

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Patient safety alert on addressing rising trends and outbreaks in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

An NHS England stage-two ‘resource’ patient safety alert has been issued today (6 March 2014) to signpost providers of NHS care to resources developed to prevent the spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Enterobacteriaceae are a large family of bacteria that usually live harmlessly in the gut of all humans and animals, but, in the wrong place, […]

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Risk of associating ECG records with wrong patients

ECGs are routinely performed to diagnose cardiac problems and there are no risks associated with the test itself, however, there is a risk of associating ECG records with wrong patients leading to misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment. Risk of associating ECG records with wrong patients Patient safety alerts are shared rapidly with healthcare providers via the […]

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New recommendations to further improve surgical safety

A new report published today by the Surgical Never Events Taskforce has made a series of recommendations for new standards and systems to further improve the safety of surgery in English hospitals. In response, NHS England has committed to identifying practical ways to take forward the report’s recommendations to eradicate never events from surgical procedures. […]

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