Health Management and Policy Alert

Keeping children and young people with mental health needs safe: the design of the paediatric ward - interim report

Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) - 
The risks associated with caring for children and young people who exhibit certain high risk behaviours when staying in a paediatric ward were identified as part of a HSIB national investigation. This report looks at the risk factors associated with the design of paediatric wards in acute hospitals for children and young people with mental health needs.

• Report
• HSIB - investigations and reports

Saving babies’ lives 2023: a report on progress

Sands and Tommy's Joint Policy Unit - 
This report pulls together data from different sources to present a shared understanding of the burden of pregnancy and baby loss across the UK. Overall, it paints a concerning picture with progress stalling and a risk of going backwards. It finds that, in England, the Government’s target to halve the number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths by 2025 compared to 2010 levels is not on track, and there is no current target or ambition for reducing baby deaths in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. It also highlights that despite Government commitments to act on the findings of recent reviews of maternity services, this still hasn’t led to the fundamental change needed to save more babies’ lives.

• Report
• Sands - press release

Government response to the findings of the independent investigation into the death of Elizabeth Dixon

Department of Health and Social Care -
This report sets out the government’s response to the independent investigation led by Dr Bill Kirkup into the life and death of 11-month-old Elizabeth Dixon. The recommendations of the report are informed by past events but describe improvements identified as necessary today. The investigation’s original report The life and death of Elizabeth Dixon: a catalyst for change was published in 2020.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Specialist perinatal mental health care in the UK 2023

Maternal Mental Health Alliance -
This report on specialist perinatal mental health community services in the UK highlights the progress made in all four nations since 2013. However, it finds that access to life-saving mental health care for pregnant women and new mothers remains uneven, with many regions still lacking the necessary resources. Mental health-related deaths during pregnancy or up to six weeks after birth are increasing, emphasising the urgency of addressing this issue.

• Report
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance - news

Non-accidental injuries in infants attending the emergency department

Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch - 

This investigation explores the issues that infuence the diagnosis of non-accidental injuries in infants (children under one year of age) who visit an emergency department (ED). Specifcally, it explores the information and support available to ED clinicians to help them to make such a diagnosis.

• Report
• More detail

Spotlight on maternity care: your stories, your rights

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman -
This report warns that, despite a number of major reviews into maternity services, lessons are not being learned. It looks at the themes from maternity complaints and includes stories of women who have been affected by failures in maternity services.

• Report
• Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman - news

Safe and wellbeing reviews: thematic review and lessons learned

NHS England -
As part of the NHS response to the safeguarding adults review concerning the deaths of Joanna, Jon and Ben at Cawston Park, a national review has been undertaken to check the safety and wellbeing of all people with a learning disability and autistic people who are being cared for in a mental health inpatient setting. This document sets out the themes emerging from the review findings.

• Report
• Safeguarding adults review
• NHS England - publications

Interim bulletin 3: harm caused by delays in transferring patients to the right place of care

Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) - 

This third interim report for an investigation into issues around patient handover to emergency care focuses on staff wellbeing across the urgent and emergency care systems and the impact that this has on patient safety. The investigation team spoke to staff working across the urgent and emergency care system in the NHS including in emergency departments, NHS 111 call handling centres and ambulance services. As conversations progressed, HSIB saw that there was ‘significant distress’ from staff as they expressed that not being able to help the sickest of people had an impact on their personal health and wellbeing.

• Report
• Press release

Minimum service levels in event of strike action: ambulance services in England, Scotland and Wales

Department of Health and Social Care - 

The DHSC is seeking views during passage of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill on, subject to Parliamentary approval, introducing regulations on minimum service levels in England, Scotland, and Wales to support minimum service levels in the health service during strike action to protect patient safety. The consultation closes at 11:45am on 9 May 2023.

• Consultation document
• More detail

Supporting clinical leadership in virtual wards: a guide for integrated care system clinical leader

NHS England - 

This guidance supports integrated care system clinical leadership to create and develop their virtual ward service.

• Guidance
• More detail