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NHS staff 'must wash hands more'
Friday 28 December 2007
An audit of NHS staff in Scottish hospitals suggests they wash their hands between 70% and 80% of the time.
Two audits were carried out, in February and September, with specially trained employees monitoring how frequently staff washed their hands.
The first showed an overall compliance rating of 68%. That rose to 79% in the second audit.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said health boards would be expected to have hygiene levels of 90% by next year.
Hand–washing is recognised as the single most important step that can be taken to reduce transmission of infection.
Compliance rates varied across health boards, with figures in the most recent audit ranging from 59% in NHS Highland to 94% in NHS Forth valley.
The September audit showed medical staff, such as doctors, dentists and consultants, achieved a compliance rate of 62%.
Ms Sturgeon said: "More needs to be done to ensure that hand hygiene standards are as rigorous as possible."
"Patients and the public rightly expect the highest possible standards of cleanliness and hand hygiene in our hospitals to prevent the spread of infections."
The health secretary added: "Monitoring hand hygiene practices in our hospitals is an important development in our fight against infections and will ensure that we know that all health staff are employing the highest possible standards of hand hygiene."
'Getting better'
Health boards are to be given funding for at least the next two years to help highlight the importance of good hand hygiene to health staff, patients and the public.
Claire Kilpatrick, nurse consultant infection control with Health Protection Scotland, said the improvement in compliance rates between the two audits was significant.
She said: "We are just starting to seriously address compliance as a country and overall it is already getting better."
"Many staff are working towards achieving the highest possible standards to reduce the spread of infections through good hand hygiene."
Tory health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said the figures underlined the "urgent need for more action".
She added: "Many people will be astonished that after so much suffering, so much publicity and so many millions spent, this compliance rate is not higher."
Source: BBC NewsHeart unit suspends transplants
Friday 21 December 2007
Heart transplants in Scotland have been suspended after an increase in patient deaths.
Operations at the Scottish National Heart Transplant Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have been stopped while independent experts carry out a review.
Four of the 11 patients who received transplants this year died within 30 days.
While the review is taking place Scottish patients will be switched to a waiting list in Newcastle–upon–Tyne.
Source: BBC NEWS£3 cap on hospital parking charge
Friday 21 December 2007
Car parking charges at hospitals across Scotland will be capped at £3 per day in the New Year, it has been announced.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon decided on the cap after an independent review by a group of experts.
New guidance will be issued to health boards about the way they allocate staff permits.
The expert panel recommended that charges should only be introduced as a last resort to curb pressure on spaces. The cap will be reviewed later.
Source: BBC NEWSUS 'penis photo' doctor suspended
Friday 21 December 2007
A surgeon at a prestigious US hospital is facing a disciplinary hearing after he allegedly took a photo of a patient's penis during an operation.
Dr Adam Hansen, of Arizona's Mayo Clinic Hospital, is accused of taking the snap while conducting gallbladder surgery earlier in December.
The chief of general surgery allegedly showed the photo to fellow surgeons.
The patient is a strip club owner, Sean Dubowik, whose penis is tattooed with the words "Hot Rod".
A member of the surgical staff tipped off local newspaper The Arizona Republic about the incident in an anonymous call on Monday.
'Great outrage'
On the same day, Mr Dubowik, 37, learned about the photo when the Nobel Prize-winning clinic, based in Scottsdale, telephoned him.
The businessman said: "I got a strange call after my surgery from a doctor who said there was a problem. He said Hansen was on the phone and would explain."
Mr Dubowik said that the surgeon confessed to having used his mobile phone to take the picture while inserting a catheter into his penis.
The patient, who said the tattoo was done for a $1,000 (£500) bet, continued: "Now I feel violated, betrayed and disgusted."
"The longer I sit here the angrier I get."
The clinic said Dr Hansen, who is on administrative leave pending an investigation, could face the sack at a disciplinary hearing next week.
Chief executive of the hospital Denis Cortese said in a statement: "The insult to our reputation, our patients, and our staff is the greatest outrage. We are taking this extremely seriously."
Source: BBC NEWSIcy trips, snowy slips… and venomous centipedes
Monday 17 December 2007
Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat. And here's The Information Centre with a few festive facts…
As you know, The IC produces a wide range of facts and figures throughout the year as England's independent and authoritative source of health and social care information. Just in time for carols, crackers and mince pies are the latest figures on Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) in England.
Deck the halls…
Just think about those boughs of holly before reaching for the shears – there were 238 admissions to hospital in 2006/7 after contact with plant thorns, spines and sharp leaves, while a further 6,002 were admitted after falling from or on a ladder.
And a word of caution for would–be chestnut roasters – there were 38 admissions to hospital after exposure to controlled fire in a building or structure.
Walking in a winter wonderland…
It may make lovely snowmen, but the white stuff has its dangers – there were a total of 1,328 admissions to hospital in 2006/7 after falling on ice or snow. And 4,235 were admitted after a fall involving ice skates, skis, rollerblades or skateboards.
Happy holidays…
Those escaping the cold weather may not avoid an unfortunate accident. In 2006/7, 53 were admitted after contact with venomous snakes and lizards and 22 after contact with venomous marine animals and plants.
And finally, a toast…
How are you holding that glass of mulled wine? A total of 1,638 people were admitted in 2006/7 for contact with hot drinks.
Other facts from the 2006/7 data for England showed there were:
- Six admissions for contact with scorpions
- 49 admissions for victims of lightning
- 4239 admissions from contact with a non–powered hand tool
Health Professions Council meeting summary
Thursday 13 December 2007
Monday 17 December 2007
Here follows a summary of the decisions made at the Council meeting held on Thursday 13 December.
Full minutes of the meeting will be published as part of the papers for the next Council meeting.
Counsellors and psychotherapists
The Council considered a recommendation from the Executive that a Professional Liaison Group should be established to consider the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists. The Council agreed to work proactively to investigate and make recommendations to the Secretary of State for Health on the statutory regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists.
The Council agreed to establish a counsellors and psychotherapists Professional Liaison Group (a working party) in July 2008 to consider the structure of the register, professional titles, the standards of proficiency, standards of education and training, post registration standards and grandparenting arrangements. The Group's membership will include representatives of the profession.
Equality and diversity scheme
The Council approved its equality and diversity scheme.
Post-registration qualifications
The Council agreed further work on the annotation of the register to show post–registration qualifications.
Student fitness to practise
The Council agreed its response to the Department of Health on whether students should be registered. It was the Council's view that the need for student registration had not yet been demonstrated.
Fee changes
The Council agreed proposed increases to fees, to take effect in 2009. The proposed increases would be at, or below, the rate of inflation and would be subject to a consultation process.
Five year plan
The Council considered and agreed the assumptions and forecasts for its five year financial plan.
Council elections 2008
The Council appointed the returning officer for the 2008 Council elections and agreed that candidates' statements of expenditure should be published on the HPC website. The elections will be held if the Section 60 Order which will bring about the restructured Council is not enacted by July 2008.
The next meeting of the Council is on 27 March 2008.
The agenda and papers are available on the HPC website.Surgeons used 'dirty' instruments
Thursday 6 December 2007
Eight patients at hospitals in Surrey and south London have been operated on with potentially contaminated instruments, it has been revealed.
Washing and disinfection of the instruments was carried out, but the subsequent sterilisation process was not completed in its entirety.
They were then used in treatments at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals.
The NHS trust said affected patients had been spoken to, and the risk of cross-infection was "extremely low".
The sterilisation and disinfection unit is currently out of action and more than 100 routine operations have been cancelled in recent days as a result.
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust said apparently faulty seals on some instrument packs were reported on 13 November.
Eight were found to have not been through the final part of the sterilisation process, which uses high–pressure steam.
Another six instrument packs were being checked.
A trust spokesman said: "The Health Protection Agency has confirmed the process was enough to destroy any blood–borne viruses like HIV and hepatitis, as well as infections like MRSA."
"However something like tetanus might not have been destroyed."
But medical director Dr Lindy Steven added: "Expert medical advice has confirmed that the risk to patients of any form of cross-infection is extremely low".
"We would like to extend our sincere apologies to those affected, and to those whose operations are being delayed."
The work of the sterilisation and disinfection unit was suspended on 29 November, but there were no faulty instrument batches from that date back to the beginning of the investigation.
A trust statement said checks would "make sure the remaining [six] packs will not be used", adding it was "highly unlikely that any other patients have been affected".
The eight patients operated on were offered appropriate blood tests and follow–up treatment.
Source: BBC NewsGovernment launches new Flu Pandemic plan
Sunday 25 November 2007
Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, published a new plan on Friday to increase preparedness and better protect the public against a possible flu pandemic.
A new clinical countermeasures strategy has been developed to offer increased protection against the effects of a flu pandemic if a 'worst case scenario' happened. Commenting on the plans, the WHO has again stated that the UK is in the vanguard of countries worldwide in preparing for a pandemic.
The Department has already signed agreements with two pharmaceutical companies to supply enough pandemic specific vaccine for the entire population once the pandemic strain has been identified.
The new countermeasures include plans to:
- Double the stock of antivirals to cover at least 50 per cent of the population
- Buy 14.7 million courses of antibiotics to cover at risk groups
- Purchase 350million surgical masks and 34m respirators for NHS and social care staff on the frontline.
The Government also has an existing stockpile of 3.3 million doses of H5N1 pre–pandemic vaccine for healthcare workers and will be considering all the latest scientific evidence in relation to future decisions on pre–pandemic vaccines.
Alan Johnson said:
"The threat of an influenza pandemic remains real. Whilst it is not possible to predict its timing or severity, the top priority for the Government is to do all we possibly can to protect the public. Our arrangements are kept constantly under review, ensuring we keep abreast of emerging expert evidence and advice."
"Our new plans provide the first national blueprint for the UK's response to a pandemic flu. We are strengthening our countermeasures to ensure we have the necessary vaccines, antibiotics and antivirals to protect the population if the worst were to happen."
"We know a pandemic would have significant social and economic impact as well as a serious effect on the health of the population. A thorough and integrated response is therefore critical to lessening its overall effect."
"We have spent several years developing and testing plans with front line service providers and listening to expert national and international advice on how best to prepare the country and will continue to do that as new evidence or medical advances emerge."
Alongside the countermeasures a new National Flu Pandemic Framework, which coordinates the responses of all government departments, regional assemblies and all public and private bodies, will set out how the UK will respond if a flu pandemic occurs.
The Framework will help public and private organisations to be as prepared as possible for a pandemic and make sure their arrangements are resilient enough to cope
Although previous pandemics during the last century have resulted in infection rates at or around 25 per cent, the new plans consider a possible 'reasonable worst case' scenario to ensure a robust response. This means considering an infection rate between 25 per cent and 50 per cent of the population.
Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said:
"We may not be able to prevent a pandemic, but with good planning we can reduce its impact on all aspects of society. This framework will enable organisations such as schools, businesses, transport, and the NHS to prepare for a pandemic in an integrated manner, with the full support of cross-government policy and planning."
"But many changes can be made now. Developing habits for respiratory hygiene – using tissues, disposing of them carefully, and cleaning hands – are all good practice even before a pandemic arrives."
"It is recognised internationally that the UK has already made significant progress in protecting the UK and we will continue to work closely with the World Health Organisation."
Dr David Heymann, the Assistant Director–General for Health Security and Environment at WHO said this week:
"The UK is still in the vanguard of countries worldwide in preparing for a pandemic, and is also one of the leading global players in addressing the cross-sectoral issues in their planning."
The Department of Health has also announced £2M to support the Global Pandemic Influenza Action Plan, to increase vaccine supply to help develop capacity to secure vaccine supply for the developing world.
The National Flu Pandemic FrameworkNurses' pay row a threat to ops
Friday 23 November 2007
A PAY dispute involving hundreds of nurses has broken out at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales, sparking fears that operations will have to be called off.
Nurses are furious at the failure to resolve a long–running pay battle which could see top nurses losing more than £7 an hour and lowly–paid nurses £20 worse off per shift.
It will mean a nurse who currently earns a basic salary of around £20,000 losing out on several thousand pounds a year.
Patients are set to be caught up in the dispute with fears that operations will be called off as nursing staff have vowed from this Sunday to only work their set hours and to withdraw their traditional goodwill to do the extra shifts – often those covering weekends and nights.
The pay wrangle will have the most serious affect on nurses working in the intensive care units for adults and children and those looking after heart patients, operating theatres nurses and those in the operating theatre recovery areas.
Nurses are fuming that their pay will be cut and the Echo understands that all attempts by managers of the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust to try to resolve the problem have been overruled by the National Assembly.
The dispute centres on the introduction of a new UK pay scheme for NHS staff which rules out the local agreements for extra shifts or extra hours which have, until now, been paid by the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust.
One senior intensive care nurse told the Echo: "They need nurses working the extra hours to keep the hospital running. They are now planning to cut our pay for this work. It means they will have to employ private nurses on £60 a hour – if they can find them – to do the work."
Nurse Angela Gorman, a union official with Unison, said: "This dispute has been rumbling on for many months but there has been no resolution. It appears the Trust's hands are tied but it will impact on the hospital's ability to deliver their service to patients especially those coming in for elective surgery."
"Nurses of all grades will be affected, especially those on the lowest salaries who will have their rates cut for the extra hours they put in."
Patient watchdogs today voiced their worries over the dispute.
Martyn Jenkins, chief officer for Cardiff Community Health Council, said: "We are very concerned on the impact this will have on patients and patient care. If this dispute cannot be resolved or goes on for a prolonged period, then there is no doubt that patients will be seriously affected."
Source: South Wales Echo Greg TindleCockroaches 'killed on operating table'
Tuesday 20 November 2007
A FORMER senior doctor at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) says complaints that he had to kill cockroaches on operating theatre tables during surgery were ignored by management.
It has also been confirmed that an anaesthetist at the hospital was forced to catch an unconscious patient after an operating table broke in half.
The revelations are contained in a submission by Dr Jeffery Sleye Hughes, who worked at the hospital between 1981–86 and 1995–2007, to a parliamentary inquiry into the running of RNSH.
The inquiry heard the growing list of complaints about the hospital have been having an effect on staff, with reports of nurses being spat on and abused in the street.
Dr Sleye Hughes said he was forced to resign because of an "endless procession of events" that highlighted the "bureaucratic negligence" and "medical indifference" at the hospital.
His submission contains reports on nine incidents, which include instances of patients being lied to about the delay in their surgery and inadequate surgical instruments being used to undertake day–to–day surgery.
He said he had forwarded the complaints to administration, only to have them "ignored or shelved".
"(The incidents included) killing live cockroaches on operating theatre tables during operations and no response when I forwarded a written complaint and response requested," his submission said.
"High–pressure hoses exploding in theatre during use and injuring staff."
"Operating tables breaking in two due to age/fatigue failure off (sic) whilst the patient was anaesthetised. A spinal injury only being avoided due to the anaesthetist's catching the upper portion of the bed before the patient came to harm."
Health Minister Reba Meagher, who was among the first witnesses called for the inquiry's public hearings, said the cockroach incident was "unacceptable".
It is believed to have occurred between 1998 and 2002.
"That is why the new management has responded to concerns of staff at the hospital and ordered a complete clean of the hospital," Ms Meagher said.
Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service chief executive Matthew Daly confirmed the incident with the operating table had taken place, but said maintenance had now resolved the issue.
"I was also aware there was no injury to the patient due to the good work of theatre staff," he told the committee.
The incidents join a list of concerns raised about the hospital in the seven weeks since Jana Horska miscarried in the emergency department toilet of the hospital.
Acting director of nursing at RNSH, Linda Davidson, said staff were receiving a lot of positive feedback from patients about the treatment they are getting.
She told the inquiry these stories were not getting out into the community.
"I have had it reported to me that some nursing staff in the community are actually undergoing similar situations that their colleagues at Camden and Campbelltown experienced, which was abuse in the streets and actual spitting episodes," Ms Davidson told the inquiry.
"So when that comes back within that environment the morale does tend to wane accordingly."
Nurses at Campbelltown and Camden Hospitals said they were verbally and physically abused in the streets when the two hospitals were at the centre of maltreatment allegations in 2004.
Source: news.com.au Nick RalstonAnetic Aid Newsletter
Monday 12 November 2007
Download the October 2007 Anetic Aid Newsletter
Modernising Nursing Careers Consultation Launched
Thursday 1 November 2007
Nurses and health practitioners were today invited by Health Secretary Alan Johnson to share their views on their career development.
Speaking at this year's Chief Nursing Officer's Conference, he launched a formal consultation to look at a new structure for nurses' careers.
The draft proposals reflect changing health needs and the new ways in which healthcare is being delivered by organising nursing careers around a series of 'patient pathways'.
Five broad pathways that reflect patient care categories emerged from listening to stakeholders' and nurses' views earlier this year. They include:
- Children, family and public health
- First contact, access and urgent care
- Supporting long term care
- Acute and critical care
- Mental health and psychosocial care
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:
"The NHS cannot stand still in the face of profound changes in society and major challenges to health. We must design 21st Century healthcare systems to meet these challenges. This must be matched by a 21st century workforce and by launching this consultation on a new career framework nursing, has taken a major step in that direction."
"For the Health Service to reach its potential, we must ensure that every single member of staff reaches their potential. We are committed to delivering a rewarding and fulfilling career for today's and tomorrow's nurses which is why I'm delighted to launch our consultation on career planning for post-registration nurses."
"Everyone should have clear sight on where their career is heading. By linking these career paths with the patient pathways which are emerging in the Darzi Review we can ensure that professional development is linked with the transformation of the service."
Chief Nursing Officer Christine Beasley said:
"This national consultation is a great opportunity to shape the nursing careers of the future. The proposed new framework draws on the national and regional stakeholder events held over the last year and takes forward recommendations from Modernising Nursing Careers: setting the direction. It is so important that this consultation on post registration training is launched at the same time as the Nursing and Midwifery Council launch their consultation 'A framework for pre-registration nursing education'. We want to gather as many views as possible on the options proposed and to find out if you think the options proposed would work for nurses and equip them to provide the best care for patients and service users."
The consultation will finish on 15 February 2008.
The consultation documents are available on the Chief Nursing Officer's web site
Anaesthesia: Safety improvement through partnership
Friday 19 October 2007
A key programme of work to improve safety in anaesthetic services is announced today by the National Patient Safety Agency at a conference opened by HRH the Princess Royal.
The project will be outlined at Safety in Clinical Practice, a two day conference hosted jointly by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland where speakers will include NPSA Chief Executive Martin Fletcher.
The Agency has embarked on four collaborative projects with differing Royal Colleges to improve patient safety in the relevant specialities. 'Anaesthesia: Improvement through Partnership' is a two year project led by the Royal College of Anaesthetists.
The project will focus on:
- Developing a speciality based reporting system to improve critical incident reporting by providing a single point of entry for data submission.
- Patient safety incidents arising from errors during the administration of injectable drugs
- The management of throat packs and in particular their retention following surgery.
Martin Fletcher said: "We aim to put patient safety at the top of the healthcare agenda. By working closely with the Royal College of Anaesthetists and other experts in the field we can pool our expertise to focus on the issues that really matter for the benefit of patients."
Charlie McLaughlan, Director of Professional Standards at the Royal College of Anaesthetists, said: –This project will be key to the advancement of safety improvements in anaesthesia in the UK. It will improve collaboration towards a safer anaesthesia environment for patients and the various elements of the project will grow to become key elements of ongoing safety focussed processes well into the future.–
The Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), supported by the Agency, is forming an Anaesthesia Expert Consultative Group that currently includes representation from the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI), the College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) and the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP).
The group is working in collaboration to identify patient safety issues within the field of anaesthesia and determine areas of activity where partnership working can improve safety.
For several years the RCoA has been interested in developing a national critical incident reporting system which allows for shared learning in anaesthesia. The NPSA is now working with the RCoA and the Association of Anaesthetists to develop a speciality based system which integrates the information required by anaesthetists with the NPSA's National Reporting and Learning System and allows the RCoA access to data so that clinicians can have a role in analysis and subsequent action.
Two areas of concern have already been identified by the group as issues for further work. The first relates to patient safety incidents arising from errors during the administration of injectable drugs. Next steps of this major piece of work will include the examination of the role of double–checking and technologies such as bar–coding to help reduce such errors. The programme of work will include the formation of pilot sites.
The second more specific issue is the management of throat packs and in particular their retention following surgery. The group will be reviewing a variety of solutions and working to promote awareness to improve safety in this area.
The outcomes of the RCoA 3rd national audit of major complications of spinal and epidural anaesthesia which is nearly complete, and the 4th national audit on airway management, will be incorporated into this partnership project and may suggest possible future areas of work.
UK MUST LEARN FROM OTHER EU MEMBER STATES IN FIGHT AGAINST SUPERBUGS
Friday 19 October 2007
The UK must learn from other EU Member States and support a Europe–wide code of practice if the fight against super bugs is to be won, according to a Liberal Democrat MEP.
The subject has once again attracted attention after a shocking survey released by the Healthcare Commission today found that a quarter of hospital trusts in England are failing to meet new standards on infection control.
Liz Lynne MEP, who is Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, yesterday hosted a seminar attended by MEPs and European experts at the European Parliament to discuss how countries who are losing the battle against super bugs, such as the UK, can learn from other Member States. The UK has consistently come towards the bottom of EU super bug tables.
Commenting from Brussels Liz said:
"Today's shocking new report shows the Government is losing the battle against hospital infections and yet there is no need to reinvent the wheel; in many countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, the MRSA infection rate is less than 1%, ten times lower than in the UK and yet unbelievably exchange of best practice is practically non-existent."
"EU legislation is not necessary, but today's figures show that the Government is unable to act and I believe an EU Code of Practice could be a vital tool in sharing experiences to help ensure that patients, visitors and staff alike are better protected."
"Hospitals should be safe, reassuring places; action is needed now if further unnecessary loss of life is to be avoided. People may lose their jobs as a result of these outrages but it will not bring back the loved ones lost through poor hygiene."
Sedated patients can hear speech
Friday 12 October 2007
Research into the brain's response to speech when under sedation has revealed reduced activity in areas critical for memory and understanding language.
Cambridge University scientists used brain imaging to find evidence which may influence the amount of anaesthetic given to patients undergoing surgery.
It may also affect attitudes to patients in a coma or vegetative state.
Researchers said: "The brain processes speech when sedated but it appears not to fully comprehend or remember it."
Using a scanning technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that registers brain activity, Dr Matt Davis, a cognitive neuroscientist at Cambridge University, and his colleagues mapped speech-related brain activity in volunteers at varying levels of sedation.
'Return of consciousness'
Their aim was to show how the brain's response to speech changed as people became more sedated and whether understanding of speech might continue even while consciousness and memory were impaired.
Professor David Menon, professor of anaesthesia at the University of Cambridge, said the research has important parallels in two clinical situations.
"A small proportion of anaesthetised patients report memories of events that occurred in the operating theatre, implying an inadvertent return of consciousness."
"It is possible that even more patients may have some awareness of events during anaesthesia, but this may fail to be detected because patients have no memories of the event afterwards."
"This implies that these patients, although unable to respond, are not sufficiently anaesthetised. There are good clinical reasons to use only as much anaesthetic as is needed, since this increases patient safety."
"However, this needs to be balanced against the risk of inadvertent return of consciousness during general anaesthesia."
"Our research will help develop techniques to measure how deep anaesthesia needs to be to prevent awareness."
"Secondly, there is an emerging consensus that some severely brain–injured patients in a coma or vegetative state might understand but not be able to respond to speech."
Source: BBC NewsHealthcare watchdog to give voice to NHS staff in world's biggest staff survey
Friday 12 October 2007
Published: 2nd October 2007
The Healthcare Commission is encouraging NHS employees to provide feedback on their experiences at work by participating in what is believed to be the largest survey of staff in the world.
In the fifth annual survey, more than 250,000 NHS staff will be asked their views. Between 600 and 850 staff at each NHS trust will be chosen randomly and data will be collected between October and December.
The Healthcare Commission, the Department of Health and NHS Trusts use the information gathered in the survey to inform local and national changes in working conditions, which will lead to improvements in the quality of care for patients.
Dr Jonathan Boyce, head of surveys at the Healthcare Commission, said: "We want to give a voice to NHS staff. We need to know their views on key issues such as safety, violence towards frontline workers and their experience of work–related stress."
"The annual staff survey is a vital tool in our efforts to improve the NHS for both patients and staff. This year we hope to have a record response rate. Staff attitudes, experiences and working environment naturally affect organisational outcomes – and in the NHS this includes the quality of care patients receive."
"Results from the survey are used by trusts to deliver local improvements in working conditions and practices. I hope that NHS staff will seize this opportunity to shape their own future."
The Commission encourages staff in all sectors and roles in the NHS to take the opportunity to give their views. In 2006, 38,188 nurses, 8,123 doctors, 13,355 allied health professionals (for example clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists), 2,795 managers, 3794 ambulance staff and 5875 ancillary staff took part in the survey.
More information on NHS surveys is also availableNHS to speed up technology use
Friday 12 October 2007
A scheme to speed up the introduction of cutting–edge technology in the NHS has been launched.
The NHS has long been criticised for being slow to adopt new gadgets.
Around 15 life–saving technologies will be introduced over three years, including a blood flow monitor which could save the NHS £500m a year.
The NHS Technology Adoption Hub, based in Manchester, was set up after an advisory group found innovations were not reaching patients.
The Healthcare Industries Task Force, set up to promote better use of medical technology within the NHS, concluded three years ago that better promotion was needed for new ideas.
In 2005, the Health Select Committee warned the NHS was lagging behind many other countries in the take–up of modern equipment and spent less than the European average on medical technology.
One of the devices to be looked at under the new programme – the CardioQ Oesophageal Doppler machine – monitors the amount of blood circulating in patients undergoing major surgery.
It tells doctors if the patient needs additional fluid, helping them to recover much more quickly after the operation.
The Hub is also looking at a machine to diagnose whether men with an enlarged prostate would benefit from surgery.
An ECG machine which can be used by GPs in their practice and the results read remotely by experts, reducing the need for patients to attend hospital clinics, is also being introduced.
Barriers
Each technology will be implemented in three trusts before adoption is encouraged across the whole of the NHS.
Margaret Parton, head of the National Technology Adoption Hub said all the technologies chosen had been proven to be effective but for some reason most people did not have access to them.
"It is vital that new life-saving, cost-effective technologies are adopted as quickly as possible through the NHS."
"The National Technology Adoption Hub will streamline and speed up the process."
She said individual trusts were nervous about taking the "risk" of buying expensive equipment that wouldn't be used.
"One of the biggest issues is that adopting new technology is very disruptive – what we're doing is breaking down those barriers and supporting trusts."
Health minister Lord Ara Darzi, who is also a practising surgeon, said: "It is encouraging to see the NHS continually striving to find the best standards of care, using the latest available techniques, for its patients."
Richard Phillips, a spokesman for the Medical Technology Group, a campaign body, said he hoped the Hub would speed up the process.
"Medical technologies are going through several different appraisal channels, including the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, yet even when approved they are not being widely used in the NHS."
"It simply takes too long for new developments to be taken up for use in the NHS. This Hub has the potential to change that."
He added there were some "serious challenges" in getting already approved technologies implemented more quickly and consistently across the NHS.
Source: BBC NEWSHPC In Focus – Issue 13
Monday 8 October 2007
Issue 13 of 'HPC In Focus' is available to download
THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF ANAESTHETISTS ANNOUNCES 'SAFETY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE' CONFERENCE, 18–19 0CTOBER, 2007, OPENED BY HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL
Sunday 23 September 2007
The Royal College of Anaesthetists, the professional body representing anaesthesia in the UK – together with the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland – will present a two day 'Safety in Clinical Practice' conference on 18–19 October, 2007, to be opened by HRH The Princess Royal.
The two day conference will be a major departure from the traditional style of educational meetings, incorporating many practical elements and a wealth of interactive, hands–on content. The event is designed to stimulate discussion on increasing anaesthesia safety. It features a series of short presentations, after which attendees can meet several anaesthetic equipment manufacturers, medical device regulatory bodies and a selection of other groups which have a major interest in anaesthesia safety.
The afternoon sessions involve hands–on workshops that show attendees how new equipment and critical incident simulation can improve the safety of the delivery of anaesthetics.
The conference will also launch 'National Audit Project 4', involving anaesthetists and other healthcare professionals in improving airway management for increased patient safety.
Dr Judith Hulf, president of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and Dr David Whitaker, president of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, have stated their delight that HRH The Princess Royal has kindly agreed to attend this prestigious event. Together, both organisations represent their members for all aspects of anaesthesia practice, and royal patronage of the conference strongly reinforces the drive toward continuing the focus on patient safety as the principal concern for all anaesthetists.
The 'Safety in Clinical Practice' conference will take place at Churchill House, Red Lion Square, London, from 9am to 5pm on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 October. Application forms for attendance at the conference can be obtained on the College website by accessing the Meetings and Events area.
International expert to speak on patient safety in anaesthetic services
Wednesday 19 September 2007
Professor Bill Runciman, President of the Australian Patient Safety Agency, will be the key–note speaker at a joint workshop being held tomorrow by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA).
The workshop will focus on setting up an enhanced speciality based incident reporting system for patient safety incidents occurring during anaesthesia. This will allow RCoA to directly access relevant data from the NPSA's National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS), allowing more detailed analysis and shared learning.
Drawing on the expertise of a project team that includes anaesthetists, human factors specialists and design experts, issues under discussion will include how and when anaesthetists are likely to report incidents, and learning from critical incident reports.
Lord Naren Patel, Chairman of the NPSA, said: "This collaboration with the Royal College of Anaesthetists to develop a speciality–based reporting system will give us better information on incidents related to anaesthetics, and help us to identify risk areas."
"We're delighted that Professor Runciman will be joining us from Australia to share his experience of setting up a ground–breaking anaesthetic incident monitoring system. By learning from international partners and colleagues, we're working together to deliver the safest care possible for patients."
Professor Runciman will be speaking about his experience of developing and implementing the Anaesthetic Incident Monitoring System (AIMS) in Australia, which pioneered the speciality based model of incident reporting.
He said: "Sharing our knowledge and expertise is the way forward – that's why I'm so pleased to be working with the NPSA and the Royal College of Anaesthetists to improve patient safety in anaesthetic services."
"When I founded the Australian Patient Safety Foundation in 1988, patient safety was a relatively new area. Today, it's incredibly encouraging to see how rapidly progress is being made across the world, with organisations like the National Patient Safety Agency using incident data collaboratively to improve safety and reduce risk."
Mr Charlie McLaughlan, Director of Professional Standards, Royal College of Anaesthetists said: "The College is delighted to be a partner in taking forward this important aspect of sourcing and investigating anaesthesia related critical incidents with the NPSA."
"We have benefited from past collaborative working with colleagues to produce a safer patient environment and this initiative presents an excellent opportunity to work with international experts for further shared learning."
The development of this reporting system will be a key component of a two year project led by the RCoA, with the support of the NPSA, to introduce new ways of working that improve patient safety in anaesthetic services.
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)Health Professions Council launches fourth FTP annual report
Monday 17 September 2007
The Health Professions Council (HPC) has launched its fourth fitness to practise annual report that details all aspects of its FTP function over the financial year 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007.
The report provides detailed information about the HPC's work in considering allegations about the fitness to practise of its registrants. It also presents the ways in which practice committee panels have handled the cases brought before them, as well as information about the number and type of cases and their outcomes.
This year has seen an increase in the number and complexity of hearings. In HPC's first year of operation (April 2002 to March 2003) the HPC received 70 allegations, this financial year allegations totalled 322 which is an increase of 460%. The increase has been steady across the last five years. This report provides more information on the types of cases that have been considered, including the types of allegations received, cases where the panels have determined that there is a 'case to answer' and cases where a sanction has been imposed. The report also looks into trends in the allegations received, detailing the types of allegations by profession and the location trends of allegations across the UK.
When asked to comment about the increase of cases, Kelly Johnson, Director of Fitness to Practise said "Although there has been an increase in the number of cases considered by panels in 2006–2007, the overall number of registrants who appear before our panels is still less than 1%. We attribute this increase to a better awareness of the HPC's function and powers, particularly amongst the public and employers. The increase does not reflect a drop in the standard of care provided by the professionals registered with us. The vast majority of registrants are still acting in a safe, lawful and effective manner".
The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK–wide health regulator set up by the Health Professions Order (2001). The HPC keeps a register for thirteen different health professions and only registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HPC will take action against people who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.
Copies of the report can be downloaded or hard copies can be requested by email or by phoning 020 7840 9806.World Health Organization and its partners call for intensified research to improve patient safety
Monday 17 September 2007
Up to 1–in–10 patients across the globe may be subject to a medical error when hospitalised1
Many of these errors could be avoided
Porto, Portugal, 24 – 26 September 2007. Patient Safety Research – Shaping The European Agenda
Adverse events in health care and medical errors harm millions of patients worldwide each year. This risk can be reduced by studying instances of adverse events and using this evidence to improve the delivery of health care. Patient safety research is central in every aspect of patient care and should be encouraged globally, delegates at a conference in Porto, Portugal, will hear.
The World Health Organization (WHO) World Alliance for Patient Safety, University College London (UCL) and the UK's Faculty of Public Health (FPH) are hosting the first ever pan-European conference dedicated to patient safety research.
Patient Safety Research – Shaping The European Agenda will facilitate greater collaboration between 400 academics, policy makers and funding institutions, with the aim of agreeing priorities for patient safety research in developed and developing countries.
The conference is supported by the European Commission Sixth Framework Programme for Research and the Portuguese Ministry of Health during Portugal's Presidency of the European Union.
As well as facilitating research developments, the event will enable policy makers to understand, and utilise, patient safety research. Improving healthcare systems based on this data may reduce patient safety risk and the associated impact on patients, families and healthcare providers.
"Collaboration required to produce quality research that improves patient care"
Mark McCarthy, Professor of Public Health and Honorary Consultant in public health medicine at University College London, says, "Patient safety is a growing and exciting area of research. We want to encourage European and global collaboration to ensure that the right kind of research happens and that evidence is shared. This international conference represents a huge first step in establishing the key priorities for the successful implementation of research programmes in Europe and beyond."
He adds, "Medical and public health practice will only adapt according to the effectiveness of interventions. It is critical that high quality research is conducted to establish why and how medical errors occur and that the evidence is then used in policy development. This is the only sensible way to introduce changes in medical practice that will improve clinical care."
"Innovative research to be translated into life saving actions"
Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England, who chairs the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety, reinforces the importance of patient safety research, "Patient safety research is an invaluable resource for ensuring that health care reduces patient suffering and does not contribute to it. It is vital that research findings are translated into tangible actions that can actually save lives."
"Health improvements through shared learning, not blame"
Professor Alan Maryon Davis, President of the FPH and Director of Public Health, indicates that we all have a role to play in facilitating patient safety research, "Today's blame culture threatens public health because patients blame healthcare systems and doctors blame policy makers, meaning people are reluctant to report medical errors. By working collectively with many healthcare providers, and patients themselves, in a culture of shared learning rather than blame, patient safety researchers can help to identify and address these medical errors. We need to understand what is happening today in order to improve patient safety in the future."
Conference programme
Conference attendees will hear speeches from David Bates, Leader of the Patient Safety Research programme of the World Alliance for Patient Safety and renowned world expert in the field of patient safety, as well as Sir Liam Donaldson, Chair of the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety and Chief Medical Officer for England.
Plenary sessions will address research approaches to patient safety, explore research networks, and will enable the European patient safety research community to move this important agenda forward.
Workshops will focus on research and policy issues. Research themes will include; the value of national reporting systems, understanding human action in preventing or causing adverse events, the role of the patient, controlling hospital infections, and effective methods to ensure accurate medication. WHO–lead policy workshops will focus on various elements of research commissioning including; building infrastructures and capacity, and developing partnerships.
To view the latest conference programme and identify specific topics of interest, please visit Patient Safety Research
1. Patient Safety, The Public Health Portal of the European Union.Europe's First Professional Training Programme in Integrated Medicine is Launched for Medical Doctors & Nurse Practitioners
Wednesday 12 September 2007
This month sees the official launch of a 2 year professional training programme in integrated medicine for medical doctors and nurse practitioners.
Developed by The British College of Integrated Medicine, and inspired by Dr Andrew Weil's highly successful Integrated Medicine Training Programme based at the University of Arizona in America, this pioneering training programme aims to facilitate the emergence of a new generation of doctors and nurse practitioners who are committed to the practice and philosophy of integrated medicine.
Dr Mark Atkinson, Founder of The British College of Integrated Medicine defines integrated medicine as a proactive, patient–centred, whole–person approach to health, healing and human flourishing. It involves the co–ordinated and integrated provision of individually tailored health and wellbeing programmes which are designed to:
- empower the patient to take an active and informed role in their own healing and recovery
- address and resolve the underlying barriers to optimum health and healing
- provide the knowledge, skills, resources and support so that individuals can take better care of their physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual health.
Rather than limiting treatments and recommendations to a specific specialty, integrated medicine uses the safest and most effective combination of approaches and treatments from allopathic and complementary medicine. These are selected according to a combination of evidence–based practice, and the expertise, experience and insight of the individuals and team members caring for the patient
The practice and provision of integrated medicine is well established in the USA, where there are more than 500 trained integrated medical doctors and numerous specialist integrated medical centres throughout the US. Most medical schools in the USA have integrated medicine incorporated into their curriculum. The focus is now very much on repeating the US in Europe, and the launch of The British College of Integrated Medicine is very much seen within medical circles as a significant step towards achieving that.
The arrival of the college and its training courses, have been hailed as an important step forward for the medical profession.
"I am delighted to be supporting The British College of Integrated Medicine and their post-graduate training courses", said Professor Karol Sikora – Professor of Cancer Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London. "The integrated medical approach to health and healing combines evidence–based practices, with the expertise, experience and insight of healthcare practitioners in a way that is designed to provide patients with an individually tailored health and wellbeing programme. It is an empowering and innovative form of medicine that will have a significant and positive influence in British healthcare in the years to come."
The college also offers one of the world's most comprehensive training programmes in mind-body medicine. This 1 year programme has been designed to provide healthcare professionals with a high level of training in an eclectic mix of psychological and emotional skills and techniques for facilitating health, healing and personal growth.
Full details about the college and all courses and workshops can be found by visiting their website.National Patient Safety Agency issues warning on dealing with haemorrhage
Wednesday 12 September 2007
Following the death of a patient, the National Patient Safety Agency is warning that surgery should not be commissioned or delivered in facilities which lack the systems and equipment to manage emergencies safely.
In a recent incident a patient died following routine laparoscopic surgery exacerbated by no blood being available, a lack of critical resuscitation devices such as central venous catheters and an absence of surgical equipment such as abdominal packs and vascular sutures.
Poor communication, lack of back–up surgical assistance in the facility and a lack of basic communication devices made the situation worse. In addition there was no telephone available in the operating theatre.
Dr Kevin Cleary, Medical Director at the National Patient Safety Agency said: "Routine elective surgery including laparoscopic surgery has serious but well recognised risks such as severe haemorrhage. All units need to have robust co-ordinated systems in place and equipment which can respond immediately to these emergencies."
"That's why the Agency is advising that these systems need regular review, testing and updating, and must ensure adequate supply of blood, resuscitation equipment and the necessary surgical equipment in case of the occurrence of a recognised complication such as haemorrhage. These recommendations to the NHS and the independent sector, if implemented, will reduce risk to patients."
The NPSA is advising the NHS and the independent sector that:
- A co-ordinated system for the urgent supply of blood products must be established and maintained.
- Blood must be available quickly for all operations, including the ability to communicate directly and immediately with the transfusion laboratory and for blood products to be transported between the laboratory and the unit without delay.
- All units must have access to emergency equipment that may be required to deal with a haemorrhage, such as the appropriate sutures and packs. This emergency surgical and resuscitation equipment will need to reflect the range of surgery undertaken in the unit and the distance from other healthcare services.
- A formal check should be carried out before every procedure.
- A formal backup system for surgeons and anaesthetists is essential so that consultants have a system for summoning help in emergency situations.
Seeking ex Royal Army Medical Corps
Wednesday 12 September 2007
Come and join OTT Reunited
Seeking ex Royal Army Medical Corps Operating Theatre Technicians (OTT), Operating Department Assistants (ODA) and Operating Department Practitioners (ODP).
Come and join OTT Reunited. Data base (135 members worldwide), Newsletter and Reunion.
Contact Ken Hannah 01733 453462 for detailsSafety fears over explosion in nurse prescribing
Wednesday 22 August 2007
The number of potentially risky medicines prescribed by nurses has increased hugely in the last year since controversial changes to prescribing regulations, Pulse can reveal.
Use of some drugs by nurse prescribers has leapt by over 200% in the year since they were handed access to the entire drug formulary, according to data obtained by Pulse under the Freedom of Information Act.
Among the growing number of drugs prescribed by nurses are many whose use requires high–level clinical skills, such as the antidepressant paroxetine, the diabetes drug rosiglitazone and the heart drug amiodarone.
Overall numbers of prescriptions by independent nurse prescribers have leapt by 49% in the year since the Government amended prescribing regulations in May 2006.
But use of medicines requiring complex clinical judgment, including antibiotics and antidepressants, has increased far more rapidly. Use of ciprofloxacin is up 218%, paroxetine by 262% and rosiglitazone by 245%, according to the latest data, for May this year.
Professor Hugh McGavock, visiting professor of prescribing science at the University of Ulster and a former member of the Committee on Safety of Medicines, said he had 'serious concerns' over the issue. "'Nurses' knowledge of diagnosis is pathetically poor. It takes medical students five years to be competent to make a differential diagnosis. Only a country with not enough doctors would go down this cheapy line."
After examining the data, he identified particular concerns over nurses' prescribing of the cardiac drugs amiodarone and digoxin, plus antibiotics, antivirals and blood pressure medication.
An editorial in this week's BMJ called for an improvement in prescribing training for nurses to deal with concerns over the current training courses. Under the new regulations, independent nurse prescribers gain access to the entire British National Formulary after just 26 days of theory and 12 days of mentored practice.
Jo Haynes, editor of Pulse, said: "Nurse prescribers now in theory get access to almost exactly the same set of drugs as doctors do, but with the proviso that nurses are supposed to limit themselves only to those drugs they feel competent to prescribe. I'm sure most will do just that, but it seems incredible that it has been left to individual nurses to assess and police their own competence."
"The whole nurse prescribing scheme has been rushed through with only the bare minimum of piloting and evaluation, and it won't be until academics start analysing the rates of adverse events and prescribing errors that we will know whether it has been a good or bad thing."
Pulse is the market–leading magazine for GPs in the UK. It has a controlled circulation of 43,000 and is consistently the best read medical paper in the UK.Launched in 1960, Pulse is published by CMP Information.
HemoCue Glucose Meters Alert, UK
Tuesday 21 August 2007
Users of HemoCue Glucose 201+ and HemoCue Glucose 201 RT blood glucose meters purchased or supplied before January 2007 should contact HemoCue for a software upgrade.
Users are warned that some devices may display a zero reading for blood samples above 22.2mmol/l, if the measurement is taken directly after a measurement with an empty cuvette holder.
If a zero reading is obtained, the meter should be turned off and on again. The reading should then be repeated.
HemoCue can be contacted on 01246 292955.
Diabetes UK'Faulty' hip replacements removed
Friday 17 August 2007
Two UK patients have had their hip implants replaced after a packaging error meant they were given the wrong size, it has emerged.
Around half of the 185 implants involved, which have since been recalled by manufacturer Smith & Nephew, had been distributed in the UK.
It is not clear how many more patients may have received one of these.
The company said hospitals were being instructed not to fit any more and to monitor any patients at risk.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued an alert to UK professionals about the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implants.
The MHRA said about 83 affected devices may have been in circulation in the UK, but some have since been returned unused.
A spokesman urged patients not to be alarmed by the news.
"We do not want people to panic. The vast majority of people who have received a hip replacement will not be affected."
"But, clearly, anyone in doubt should contact their surgeon."
Recall
The manufacturer recalled some affected products in March 2007 and then extended the recall in June and again in July, he added.
Heath professionals have been advised to review the post operative X-rays of patients already implanted with affected devices to identify any mismatch of head and cup size.
A mismatch may not cause the patient any immediate symptoms or problems, but could with time.
A spokesman for Smith & Nephew said some patients were also having their blood monitored for any unusual wear that could be happening from a possible mismatch.
"Where patients may have been given these hips they are already being monitored."
He said the implants were incorrectly packaged by a subcontractor and, as a result, different sizes of acetabular cup were mixed together.
Some 50,000 patients have been fitted with Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implants over recent years.
Source: BBC NEWSOperating department practitioner suspended for stealing drugs
Friday 17 August 2007
Duncan R Nixon has been suspended from working for one year following several criminal convictions at Norwich Crown Court on the 3 July 2006. The convictions related to theft and possession of drugs and the falsification of patient records in the drugs register. Mr Nixon was given an eight month suspended sentence and 150 hours of community service.
A HPC conduct and competence panel found that while employed at Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Mr Nixon entered patients into the drugs register who did not exist and forged the signatures of colleagues. When interviewed by police, following an investigation, Mr Nixon stated that he had started doing this because of domestic problems.
Panel Chair, Martin Ryder commented: "Although the Panel has no evidence that any patient has been harmed or put at risk by Mr Nixon, his misconduct has damaged the reputation of his profession. Mr Nixon's dishonesty continued over a number of weeks and included theft and the fraudulent making of drug records."
"The Panel considers that a suspension order is necessary in order to protect the public in this case."
The Health Professions Council is an independent, UK–wide health regulator set up by the Health Professions Order (2001). The HPC keeps a register for thirteen different health professions and only registers people who meet the standards it sets for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health. The HPC will take action against health professionals who do not meet these standards or who use a protected title illegally.
HPC currently regulate the following thirteen professions. Each of these professions has one or more 'protected titles'. Anyone who uses one of these titles must register with the HPC. The full list of protected titles is here.
- Arts therapists
- Biomedical scientists
- Chiropodists / podiatrists
- Clinical scientists
- Dietitians
- Occupational therapists
- Operating department practitioners
- Orthoptists
- Paramedics
- Physiotherapists
- Prosthetists / orthotists
- Radiographers
- Speech and language therapists
Mother died after 'starved of oxygen during dental surgery'
Friday 17 August 2007
A mother–of–three died during routine dental surgery after an oxygen supply tube pumped air to her stomach instead of her lungs, a medical tribunal heard.
Patsy Bryan, 39, suffered fatal brain damage after being starved of oxygen when her ventilation tube was incorrectly inserted into her throat.
Mrs Bryan, who was having a tooth abscess drained in hospital, essentially suffocated on the operating table as oxygen was pumped into her stomach.
Yesterday Dr Neil Collighan, 35, an anaesthetist, appeared before the General Medical Council to answer accused of ignoring vital warnings which could have saved her life.
The panel heard how monitoring machines warned the doctor she was not breathing properly after two attempts at passing the tube into her windpipe.
Daryl Allen, for the GMC, said that during the procedure in 2002 there had been problems in anaesthetising the patient and inserting an endotracheal tube to deliver oxygen to the lungs.
He said: "During this first attempt the patient bit on the tube and Dr Collighan abandoned this first attempt. This reflected the fact that at the time she was insufficiently anaesthetised. No criticism is made of Dr Collighan for that."
"Dr Collighan then made a second attempt to intubate the patient. During or shortly after this the patient coughed and bucked and had to be physically restrained by other members of staff in the anaesthetic room."
Mr Allen said: "During or shortly after this second attempt to insert the tube, it was misplaced into the patients oesophagus, as opposed to her trachea. The significance of the tube being misplaced is that, in this instance, oxygen and other gases would be delivered to the stomach rather than to the lungs where they are required."
Although she was attached to a capnograph machine – which indicates whether a patient is exhaling carbon dioxide and therefore receiving oxygen – Dr Collighan still failed to notice the misplaced tube.
Mr Allen said: "The capnograph was indicating that the patient was not expiring carbon dioxide. The alarm on the capnograph sounded to alert Dr Collighan to the fact."
"The GMC's case is that a lack of carbon dioxide caught on capnograph indicated that the patient was not receiving oxygen to the lungs via the endotracheal tube."
"The most obvious cause for that was a misplaced tube, which is a plainly serious and dangerous situation which had to be remedied."
The panel heard how Collighan failed to take any of a number of steps to assess whether the tube was correctly sited, instead connecting her to a second machine in the operating theatre.
Mr Allen said: "Again the capnograph showed that no carbon dioxide was being expired by the patient. It was the only logical conclusion from the information given by the capnograph that the patient was not breathing adequately and was not receiving oxygen to the lungs and that the endotracheal tube was misplaced."
"Dr Collighan did not perform any of the checks to assess whether the tube was misplaced. What he should have done immediately but did not was to remove the endotracheal tube to reinsert it and to ensure that it was appropriately sited in the trachea. At this stage he did not summon senior help and did not initialise a crash call."
Eventually it was found Mrs Bryan, a hotel housekeeper, was not breathing and Dr Collighan called senior colleagues at Leeds General Infirmary who reinserted the tube and resuscitated her.
Mrs Bryan, of Chapeltown, Leeds was transferred to intensive care where it was found she had suffered serious brain damage from oxygen starvation and she died the following day.
A police investigation was conducted into her death and a jury at her inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing. But after examining the evidence the Crown Prosecution Service decided no criminal charges should be brought against the doctor. Collighan denies misconduct. The hearing continues.
Source: Daily MailAnaesthetic switch 'may cut risk'
Friday 10 August 2007
A gas commonly used in anaesthetics might not be safe as many people think, Australian scientists have warned.
In a study of over 2,000 people, they found avoiding using nitrous oxide cut the risk of surgery complications like wound infections.
The research, in Anaesthesiology, also found a possible link between nitrous oxide and the risk of heart attacks.
But experts have warned that in many cases the use of nitrous oxide remains safe and has other advantages.
In the UK, around 6 million anaesthetics are given every year, and a significant proportion of these include nitrous oxide.
The gas is included in the mixture which patients breathe during surgery, as a supplement to the anaesthetic drugs used.
Improved outcomes
Some evidence suggesting potential side–effects from nitrous oxide use already existed, but in the latest study, the first on such a large–scale, the researchers looked at the outcomes of operations performed in 19 hospitals around the World, including in the UK.
They compared the effects of using a mixture of 70% nitrous oxide and 30% oxygen as part of the anaesthetic cocktail, with an alternative mixture of approximately 80% oxygen and 20% nitrogen.
They found patients given the oxygen–nitrogen mix suffered half as many cases of severe nausea and vomiting, and on average a 30% reduction in serious complications such as wound infections and pneumonia.
They also found patients recovered from their anaesthetics just as well as those given nitrous oxide.
Lead researcher Professor Paul Myles, from the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, said nitrous oxide could interfere with the metabolism of some vitamins, and with DNA synthesis, which is important in wound healing.
Serious implications
The study also found there could be a link between nitrous oxide and heart attacks after surgery, but this effect was too small to be confirmed, and is now being investigated in more detail.
Harriet Hopf, of the University of Utah, said in an editorial article: "This study is not the last word on nitrous oxide, but it is an important one that is likely to have a major impact on clinical practice in anaesthesia."
But other experts have warned that the use of nitrous oxide in certain cases, such as many operations on children, women in labour, and minor surgery, could still be appropriate – mainly because the gas itself can help to kill pain, and is fast–acting.
Dr Keith Myerson, a member of the Royal College of Anaesthesiologists, said: "The Australian study suggests that there may be benefits in eliminating the use of nitrous oxide in patients having major surgery."
"With the publication of this article, the use of nitrous oxide will undoubtedly diminish."
"However, it is not clear from the study whether or not the benefits were due to the elimination of nitrous oxide or the use of high concentrations of oxygen."
But he added that more work was needed to pin down the exact effect of high concentrations of oxygen administered during anaesthesia.
Source: BBC NEWSNATIONAL FIRST AID AWARENESS DAY – 2nd August 2007
Friday 24 July 2007
The UK's leading first aid providers – St John Ambulance, St Andrew's Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross – are urging the British public to equip themselves with life–saving skills on National First Aid Awareness Day (2nd August 2007).
- 1 in 3 people consider themselves capable of performing the simplest of first aid techniques or treating minor household injuries
- 1 in 10 are not confident of treating a burn effectively
- 1 in 3 people would not know the correct practice if faced with a broken bone
- 1 in 5 would be clueless as to what to do if someone was choking
- Two thirds of British people would stop if they saw someone in need of first aid
- The majority would not be comfortable with one of the fundamentals of first aid, CPR
- A third of people say they could resuscitate someone
- 1 in 4 people admit they would panic when giving first aid
Recent research commissioned by the three voluntary organisations and publishers Dorling Kindersley suggests millions of Britons lack the knowledge to undertake basic first aid procedures as featured in DK's First Aid Manual, which offers a comprehensive guide to treating casualties in emergency situations. This lack of knowledge means that people are ill equipped to deal with real–life emergency situations and is not surprising considering that people are more likely to own a DIY manual than DK's First Aid Manual!
National First Aid Awareness Day is taking place on 2nd August 2007.
The Day is a national campaign in association with the UK's leading First Aid providers, St John Ambulance, St. Andrew's Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross, and publishers Dorling Kindersley. Its aim is to raise awareness of the importance of first aid and keeping a copy of the First Aid Manual in the home.
Drawing on hundreds of years of combined experience, the Voluntary Aid Societies are the acknowledged experts in training and practising first aid. Each Society offers distinct charitable, voluntary and training services, but all work together to raise standards in first aid. St John Ambulance, St Andrew's Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross all run regular courses in first aid. These courses are literally life saving. The courses teach procedures for everyone to follow at home, in the workplace or on holiday, and give the confidence to provide effective first aid treatment anywhere, at anytime – whether it's cuts and bruises, a nosebleed or a heart attack.
The three Voluntary Aid Societies run First Aid courses.
For further details please contact the relevant organisation:St John Ambulance, 08700 10 49 50
St. Andrew's Ambulance Association, 0141 332 4031
British Red Cross, 0870 170 9222
Children's surgery overhaul call
Friday 24 July 2007
Children's surgery in England and Wales is being undermined by lack of funding and training, warn medics.
The Royal College of Surgeons says "strong action" is needed to make sure routine operations can be done locally.
At the same time, complex procedures, such as heart and brain surgery, should be carried out in specialist centres to ensure the best results, they add.
It is expected the number of consultant surgeons will need to more than double over the next few years to meet demand.
The Children's Surgical Forum last reported on the state of services seven years ago but say much has changed since then.
Low take up of training in general paediatric surgery means fewer routine operations are being done in local district general hospitals.
And although it is important that various difficult operations, such as removal of tumours, are done in specialist centres, children need to have access to services near to home when it is safe to do so, the report states.
There are currently only 104 consultant paediatric surgeons – significantly lower than the 256 predicted to be needed by 2010 – and many general surgeons who also have expertise in children will soon retire leaving nothing to fill the gap.
Recent health reforms may have a further detrimental effect as hospitals are encouraged to compete against each other rather than work together to develop the best services.
Funding may have to be increased in order to keep local services running, the report concludes.
Best practice
Across the country there is variation in best practice in children's surgery.
The report rules that children should normally be treated on dedicated paediatric theatre lists and surgeons must have life support training specific to children.
Procedures for giving anaesthesia and sedation to children need to be standardised.
And where possible children undergoing elective surgery should be admitted to a children's surgical ward as their inclusion on general paediatric wards can lead to cancellation of operations and increased risk of cross–infection.
Mr David Jones, consultant in paediatric orthopaedics at Great Ormond Street Hospital and chair of the Forum said: "Surgery for children has changed beyond recognition."
"Techniques have improved and more can be done for sick children, but fewer hospitals are able to provide these services."
"We have reached a point where there are now major challenges facing surgical care for children."
"While routine surgery should be available locally, there is a need to centralise specialist services to achieve the best outcomes."
He added: "Current health policy reforms that introduce competition can provide a disincentive for trusts to collaborate in the interests of the patient."
"The report recommends that children's surgical services be protected from competition and commissioned separately."
A spokesperson for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said they welcomed the standards set out in the report. "In particular RCPCH supports the need for a network of children's surgical services, so that care is delivered safely as close to home as possible."
Government children's tsar, Dr Sheila Shribman said: "We have already said that children's surgical services being delivered as part of a clinical network is the way forward and we are already looking at the issues around the surgical workforce and specialist training as part of our ongoing work programmes."
Source: BBCRSPCA Furious As Animal Experiments Break Through Three Million Mark
Tuesday 24 July 2007
Government statistics reveal highest number of experiments in 15 years.
The RSPCA is outraged after statistics released by the Home Office show that last year the highest number of scientific procedures was carried out on animals since 1991.
The UK is seeing unwelcome year on year increases in the numbers of procedures being carried out on animals, with this year's figures representing a shocking fifth consecutive annual rise. In 2006, 3.01 million procedures were carried out, up from 2.90 million in 2005 (a further rise of 4%).
RSPCA senior scientist Barney Reed said: "The RSPCA is furious that the numbers have risen yet again and have broken the three million mark."
"Scientists and pro"animal use campaigning groups are falling over themselves to persuade the public that everything possible is done to avoid using animals in experiments – but clearly something is not working. The number of animals used in 2006 was higher than at any time over the past 15 years!"
"Everyone involved in the use of animals in research and testing must significantly raise their game to better explore every opportunity for replacing or avoiding animal use, reducing their suffering and improving their welfare – there is simply no excuse not to."
Mr Reed added: "Numbers alone can never convey the ways in which animals can suffer and it is important that the nature and level of animal suffering is also made clear."
"The Home Office statistics should enable people to understand how much suffering animals experience and for what purposes, but the figures do not do this. For example, what does it mean when 10,000 mice are used in a scientific procedure entitled 'neoplasms', and what actually happens to a rabbit used in 'psychology', or a rat in 'anatomy'?"
"The RSPCA, the Animal Procedures Committee, and a House of Lords Select Committee have all called for these Home Office figures to be made more meaningful – yet staggeringly the Government is currently considering reducing the information collected and made available in future – this is simply not acceptable."
Porn probe at children's hospital
Saturday 21 July 2007
A member of staff at a children's hospital has been suspended after pornographic material was found on a computer.
The material was found during routine computer security monitoring at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
The worker has now been told to stay away from work until a health board investigation has been completed.
Lothian and Borders Police said it was also investigating.
Jim McCaffery, director of acute services and workforce at NHS Lothian, said: "A member of staff has been suspended from work at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children following routine computer security monitoring carried out by NHS Lothian."
Further comment
"NHS Lothian is co-operating fully with the resulting police investigation."
"As part of this process and as a standard measure I can confirm that a member of NHS Lothian staff has been excluded from work to allow a full and thorough examination of the allegations made."
Mr McCaffery said it would be "inappropriate" to make any further comment while the investigation was continuing.
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "An allegation has been made which we are investigating."
Source: BBC NEWSCHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER LAUNCHES ANNUAL REPORT
Saturday 21 July 2007
The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, on the 17th of July published his Annual Report for 2006, On the State of Public Health, in which he reviews key health problems and developments.
He calls for action in five key areas:
- improving levels of hand hygiene in hospitals (a key factor in infections such as MRSA) by giving patients the power to establish whether healthcare professionals have cleaned their hands and giving patients a personal supply of alcohol-based handrub
- tackling the present crisis in organ shortages for transplantation by introduction of an opt–out system for donors, as is done successfully in some other countries
- reducing the risk of radiation overdoses during cancer treatment by extending the use of monitoring devices to all radiotherapy machines in the country
- conducting more research to establish the reasons why 500 babies die each year despite starting the process of birth apparently healthy ('intrapartum–related deaths')
- taking steps to increase the number of women in the most senior positions in medicine.
The Chief Medical Officer is the UK Government's principal medical adviser. His Annual Reports have championed the need for action on key public health issues such as smoke–free enclosed public places. The Chief Medical Officer also highlights the work in each of the nine public health regions.
The report in more detail: hand hygiene
Sir Liam calls for action on the unacceptably low levels of hand hygiene in hospitals. Poor hand hygiene is strongly linked to healthcare infection and incidence of superbugs like MRSA and Clostridium difficile. Despite improvements, such as the more widespread use of alcohol–based handrubs, levels of compliance by healthcare staff with hand cleaning protocols seldom rise above 60%, and are often lower. Experience in some other countries – notably Switzerland – shows that high standards of hand hygiene cuts infection rates and saves lives. Studies show that patients are reluctant to challenge doctors and nurses even when they know that they have not cleaned their hands.
To tackle this, the Chief Medical Officer proposes that:
- patients should be empowered to work with healthcare professionals and ask them if they would like to clean their hands before treating them
- patients will be provided with alcohbol–based handrubs to offer staff
Sir Liam Donaldson said:
"Good hand hygiene should be a natural reflex for healthcare professionals, yet it no longer has the status it once had. Every time a patient is touched, several thousand bacteria can be passed between the clinician and a patient. Yet patients do not feel able to ask their doctor or nurse if they have washed their hands before touching them. I believe that by empowering patients to work with healthcare professionals on this issue we can improve hand cleaning rates amongst healthcare staff and reduce the number of infections."
The report in more detail: shortage of organs for transplantation
The report also addresses the grave shortage of organs for transplantation – on average one patient a day is dying on the transplant waiting list.
The current organ donor system is based on an 'opt–in' approach whereby people enrol on the NHS Organ Donor Register to give permission for their organs to be used in the event of their death. Recent legislative changes to strengthen this wish – overriding that of their relatives – has done little to increase the number of organs for donation. The Chief Medical Officer therefore proposes an 'opt–out' system be introduced, similar to that in some other European countries which has helped improve their supply of organs. An opt–out system would mean people would register to say they specifically do not want to be donors rather than they do. Safeguards would be built in to any new system of donation.
Sir Liam added:
"There are simply not enough organs donated to meet the need for transplants, with one person dying every day while waiting for a transplant. Compounding this are issues surrounding consent, which often reduce this number further. To meet current demand for organs the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register would need to approximately treble. I believe we can only do this through changing the legislation to an opt–out system with proper regulation and safeguards."
The report in more detail: other topics
Launching his 2006 Annual Report On the State of Public Health, Sir Liam Donaldson also draws attention to:
Preventing harm from radiotherapy
Radiotherapy saves lives in the treatment of cancer and other conditions. Giving the wrong dose of radiation by mistake can harm and kill patients. Such errors do occur. The Chief Medical Officer recommends that the use of in–vivo dosimetry radiation checks (this is where after a first dose of radiation, it is measured to ensure it is correct) should be mandatory. He also recommends that a full analysis of all past serious incidents be carried out by the National Patient Safety Agency, working with the NHS Litigation Authority and the Royal College of Radiologists, to identify common causes and the scope for reducing risk.
Newborn baby deaths
Approximately 500 babies a year start labour apparently healthy and then die (intrapartum–related deaths), a figure that has remained unchanged since 2000. It is of concern that the current national survey on maternal and infant deaths no longer reviews the causes of intrapartum-related deaths in detail. The Chief Medical Officer calls for further review of deaths, research and education to avert these deaths.
Women in medicine
Two–thirds of new medical students are women, yet less than 30% of consultants, 11% of professors and 36% of senior lecturers are female. Studies of women doctors' attitudes and experience show that many regret entering the profession because of the barriers to career progression that they encounter. Sir Liam calls for improved flexible working patterns and increased childcare facilities for NHS staff.
A copy of the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report 2006 On the State of Public Health can be downloaded from the Department of Health website.New mandatory surgical curriculum and web-based training system goes live
Friday 13 July 2007
From 1 August 2007 it will become mandatory for all new surgical trainees in ST1, ST2, ST3 and FTSTA posts to follow the PMETB approved, competence-based Surgical Curriculum for all nine surgical specialties embodied in the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP). Surgical trainees already in training posts are encouraged to become familiar with the new Curriculum and Assessment methods.
Developed by the Surgical Colleges of Great Britain and Ireland and the nine surgical Specialty Associations, the new Surgical Curriculum can be accessed via the ISCP website. The open access area of the website allows professionals and the public to view all aspects of the Curriculum: syllabus, levels of competence at each stage, standards and assessment tools.
The ISCP website also provides a comprehensive interactive Training Management Information System for use by Surgical Trainees, Trainers (Assigned Educational Supervisors) and Programme Directors.
The password protected interactive area of the site allows trainees and their training supervisors to view global objectives, develop learning agreements, agree assessment methods and record the evidence required to allow progression from one training placement to the next.
Trainees will use the website to store the evidence from work–place based assessments during their training posts. Security and system integrity are key priorities. Backed up every half–hour, the ISCP website is password protected at all levels with strict permissions in place. This means that no user can see particular details without first being given specific access.
The ISCP website has been piloted over the last two years in five deaneries with over 500 surgeons at all levels actively contributing to its development. More than 4,000 trainees and trainers are currently registered users of the ISCP site.
http://www.iscp.ac.ukwww.jcst.org.uk
www.pmetb.org.uk
Source: NHS Networks
INDEPENDENT REVIEW MAKES MAJOR PROPOSALS FOR RESHAPING LONDON'S HEALTHCARE
Thursday 12 July 2007
A network of 'polyclinics' throughout London could provide up to 50 per cent of the outpatient treatment currently carried out in hospital by 2017, if proposals in a report by a top London surgeon are adopted.
And hospitals would take on different roles, from local hospitals doing the bulk of the routine work to major acute hospitals undertaking complex and specialist work, with three trauma units taking seriously injured patients.
The report, Healthcare for London, by Sir Ara Darzi, Professor of Surgery at Imperial College, was commissioned by NHS London, the Strategic Health Authority for the capital, and was published on Wednesday, 11 July.
Professor Darzi points out that health services have improved for Londoners, in particular waiting times in A&E and for routine operations. But many aspects of NHS services are not as good as they should be for a major world city.
Millions of Londoners have non life–threatening short–term illnesses for which they need prompt and convenient treatment. A much smaller number suffer from more serious illness, such as stroke or heart attack, or have a major injury. The NHS is not serving either of these groups as well as it could.
He points out that best care for stroke patients means rapid access to a CT scan to determine the cause of the stroke and to provide clot busting drugs if the cause is a blockage in the blood vessel. These drugs should ideally be given within three hours. Yet, at present, many people are not even having the initial scan within 24 hours.
If stroke patients were seen by specialist teams many more could live and still more be saved from disability. Over 6000 Londoners suffered a stroke in 2005/06. A stroke strategy is a priority, the report says.
Twenty seven per cent of Londoners are dissatisfied with the running of the NHS, compared to 18 per cent nationally. Around 60 per cent of 7000 Londoners questioned said improvement was needed in waiting times to see consultants, cleanliness in hospitals, waiting in A&E and for routine operations. People are particularly unhappy with access to GP services outside normal working hours.
Medical advances mean that more care than ever before can be provided locally.
Day surgery can be provided in local hospitals, outpatients can be seen in the community and people with long–term conditions like diabetes can be supported to stay at home.
Services in the community need improvement, but GP practices in London are smaller than the England average – 54 per cent in London have only one or two GPs, compared to 40 per cent nationally, without the support and equipment to undertake treatments close to people's homes.
Professor Darzi's report recommends a network of polyclinics across the capital that would provide many of the treatments currently provided in hospital, giving patients more care closer to home. A polyclinic would include GP surgeries, diagnostics such as x–ray and pathology, outpatient clinics, urgent care, minor procedures and associated services such as pharmacies.
Professor Darzi said: "Londoners face a stark divide between primary care and hospital care, and we believe the polyclinic will fill that gap. Most GPs provide an excellent and well–regarded service, but they do not have the facilities to undertake even quite simple diagnostics on site, which means patients face multiple trips to hospital for quite straightforward procedures."
Hospitals would not be all the same – local hospitals would continue to provide the majority of treatments, but patients needing specialist treatment, complex surgery or treatment for serious injury would be sent to a major acute hospital with medical and surgical teams seeing sufficient numbers of patients to keep their skills up to date. Elective centres for routine planned surgery would not treat emergency patients, to achieve better results for patients and lower the risk of infection.
Ruth Carnall, Chief Executive of NHS London, which commissioned the report, said: "London has been the subject of a number of major reviews in recent years, but not enough has actually changed as a result of these reports. We do not want Ara Darzi's report to sit on the shelf, because its arguments and its proposals are both radical and persuasive. They also reflect very much what Londoners have been telling us."
"This report must not simply generate unproductive debate about which organisation is better than another, because the report is not about institutions but the needs of patients. It is clear we are not providing the quality of healthcare to Londoners that we could and should be, given the huge investment we have been making in our skills and resources. Ara Darzi's excellent report will be a spur to action that will ensure Londoners receive the world–class healthcare that they deserve."
Televised heart op to provide healthy insight
Wednesday 4 July 2007
OPEN heart surgery at Papworth Hospital will be shown live in a ground-breaking broadcast.
Heart surgeon Francis Wells and a theatre team will perform the operation tomorrow. It will be the first time a UK hospital operation has been broadcast to a public audience.
The operation will be watched by 220 people at the Wellcome Collection in London. A satellite link will allow viewers to question the surgical team as they carry out the complex reconstruction of a heart valve.
It will provide insight into the impact surgery will have on a patient's life, and why preserving the heart valve, rather than replacing it with an artificial one, allows the heart to function more efficiently.
Mr Wells said: "This interactive broadcast is an opportunity to demystify surgery and encourage more people to understand the magnitude of what the heart is about and what it does for us."
"It is the first organ to work at conception and the last to die, yet how much do we really know about its function? The heart is a labyrinth of beauty, and I believe the more people know about it, the more they will appreciate what it takes to maintain good health."
Papworth Hospital is the UK's largest provider of specialist heart and lung services. It performed the first UK heart transplant in 1979 and pioneered the first transplant of a "beating heart" in 2006.
The public viewing of the heart surgery at 7pm tomorrow (Thursday, 05 July) is part of the Wellcome Collection's new heart exhibition and public event programme, and is taking place in conjunction with Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Lisa Jamieson, events manager at the Wellcome Collection, part of the Wellcome Trust which funds innovative biomedical research, said: "This is a first for the UK and for Wellcome Collection. The broadcast will be a fascinating opportunity to observe a major surgical procedure and hear directly from experts whilst they are working."
"It will give unparalleled insight into an operating theatre and the skill and expertise of those involved. It also encapsulates the Wellcome Trust's vision of engaging the public with medicine and its applications."
Source: Cambridge Evening NewsCPDConference.org – CPD resources for health professionals.
Wednesday 4 July 2007
www.CPDConference.org is an innovative website for healthcare professionals, which focuses on providing continuing professional development (CPD) help and resources for UK-based practitioners.
The Internet resources and members benefits at CPDConference.org are proving to be a popular and timely solution for private individuals and NHS staff and their CPD commitments.
Full membership to CPDConference.org offers the following benefits:
- CPD & e-learning activities
- Easy to use CPD Portfolio & Diary
- Dedicated HPC CPD profile area with detailed guidance for audit preparation
- Incorporate NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework dimensions with your CPD activities
- Printable CPD certificates & portfolio summaries
- Discounted CPD events & special offers
- Telephone & email support and CPD advice
The website is also designed to act as an archive for articles, scientific posters and presentations, which can be shared internationally. CPDConference.org aims to showcase group and individual projects and provides information on activities available to healthcare professionals that contribute to their CPD. It acts as a complementary service to those offered by the international community of professional bodies and health organisations.
CPDConference.org is based on an idea conceived by Conference Manager Neil Spence, a HPC registered professional.
Neil states, "The key point about the website is that it is created by health professionals for health professionals. We always welcome CPD contributions; they help develop the importance of this project and they help us all to fulfil our CPD commitments. Full details are available on the website."
Professional, educational and health information organisations have provided guidance for the development of this website but CPDConference.org is an independent service and not directly linked to or controlled by any third party organisation. The CPD Conference resources and activities are peer-reviewed by the Speciality and Professions Committee Members who are from a practical, academic and industrial background.
For further information please visit www.CPDConference.orgor contact:
Neil Spence, Conference Manager
Email neil.spence@kosmos.co.uk
Tel. 01525 873942
Dirty hospitals must clean up, says Brown
Tuesday 3 July 2007
A drive to slash the rates of MRSA and other hospital infections is being masterminded by Gordon Brown, who is convinced that the public's perception of the NHS has been swayed by concerns over cleanliness on the wards.
Brown has told close colleagues that they will never win 'hearts and minds' over the health service reforms until they can demonstrate that the wards really are cleaner, and that they are cutting the numbers of patients being infected.
The Prime Minister and his aides have become alarmed that one in four hospitals is still not meeting the hygiene targets imposed in November 2004 by the then Health Secretary John Reid. Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) now affect some 300,000 people a year, and despite better control measures appear to be epidemic in some areas. The government is unlikely to meet the target it has set itself, of halving the numbers diagnosed with MRSA by next April.
Brown chose to highlight the issue of hospital cleanliness yesterday, on his first visit to a hospital - Kingston, in south-west London - as Prime Minister. A team of experts is being set up within the Department of Health to look at new measures to deal with the problem. The new health minister, the surgeon Professor Ara Darzi, will be asked to devise a new strategy to combat the infections.
Since MRSA first hit British hospitals 10 years ago, it has spread across the country, as an increasing number of people became resistant to antibiotics, coupled with poor cleaning on the wards and the fast turnover of patients.
In recent weeks, Brown has been touring the country listening to Labour supporters and the public. One aide told The Observer that the Prime Minister had been dismayed by the numbers who put MRSA top of their priorities for the NHS. 'We've been thinking that tackling the waiting lists is the number one issue, along with better access to the GP, but we know that dirty hospitals are in the public mind,' the aide said.
The new Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, visited Kingston hospital with Brown yesterday, where they learnt how the hospital had managed to reduce its MRSA rate by 47 per cent.
The hospital imposed a stringe