Issue 35 – March 2011

National news

NHSLA Risk Management Handbook 2011/12 released
A Handbook of information that supports all the 2011/12 NHSLA risk management standards (except for the CNST maternity standards) has now been released.

Action required: To be read by all risk managers.

NHS never events list to be extended to 25
An extended list of events that should never happen during care in the NHS has been unveiled today along with a powerful financial disincentive, as the Government affirms that substandard care will not be tolerated in the NHS.

Action required: To be read by all healthcare professionals and managers.

Quality Standards to play key role in new cancer drive to save 5,000 lives a year
NICE will produce a series of quality standards on cancer care, as part of the government's strategy to drive up England's cancer survival rates. Quality standards will be developed for colorectal, lung, ovarian and prostate cancer, while good early progress has been made on key topics such as patient experience, end of life care and breast cancer.

Action required: To be read by all oncologists and cancer care managers.

NHS not routinely testing for killer disease
An audit found that 100,000 people in the UK are at risk from undiagnosed familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). While care for identified patients was generally good, very few families were being systematically genetically screened, and there were not enough facilities for diagnosing and treating children with FH in the right care settings.

Action required: To be read by all healthcare professionals and managers.

Consultant surgeons go beyond contracts to provide 24 hour patient care, says workforce survey
An Royal College of Surgeons workforce survey says that almost three quarters of consultant surgeons who took part in a national survey work more than their contracted hours and seventy per cent report they are expected to undertake elective operations while they are supposed to be on call for emergencies.

Action required: To be read by all healthcare professionals and managers.

This bulletin is brought to you by Library and Knowledge Services. It aims to keep you up-to-date with infection control issues. At the beginning of each month, a librarian will update the bulletin with relevant information published in the preceding month. If there are areas you think we also need to cover, please let us know.