Minimising Risks of Mismatching Spinal, Epidural and Regional Devices with Incompatible Connectors

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has issued a Rapid Response Report for NHS organisations in England and Wales, aimed at ensuring that effective controls are in place to minimise the risk of mismatching spinal, epidural or regional devices with incompatible connectors.

2012/13 Risk Management Standards released

The NHSLA Acute, Community, MH & LD and Non-NHS Providers of NHS Care Standards – 2012/13 and the CNST Maternity Standards – 2012/13 for use from 1 April have just been published.

Peri-operative Care: Knowing the Risk (2011)

This new NCEPOD report found that 21% of patients undergoing elective surgery had not been seen in an assessment clinic before their operation and in only 8% of patients defined as ‘high risk’ at the time of surgery was risk of death stated on the patient’s consent form.

RCS’ 'Surgeons' Portfolio' launched to support surgeons in revalidation

From late 2012, all surgeons must provide information on the quality of their professional practice at their annual appraisal and for revalidation. This secure website aims to provide a straightforward system for surgeons to bring together in one place the data they need to provide including: clinical outcomes data, audit details, professional development activities and feedback from patients.

Patients receive high-quality care at the end of life

An audit of the provision and delivery of care for patients in the last hours or days of life has shown that while overall, care was of high quality, concerns remain regarding education, training and support for healthcare professionals caring for dying patients, and the limited availability of support services from the specialist palliative care teams.

Services for people with neurological conditions

This study focuses on the health and social care services for adults with neurological conditions resulting from disease It says that overall, the achievement of the quality requirements within the National Service Framework for Long-term Conditions has been poor.

VTE risk assessment statistics, July to September 2011

According the latest VTE risk assessment statistics released by the DoH 80.2% of admitted patients were risk assessed for VTE at ULHT hospitals during Q2 2011-12 against 88.2% for the NHS acute providers as a whole.