Health Management and Policy Alert

Follow-up on the IMMDS report and the government’s respons

House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee - 

This report states that ministers must act urgently to enable women and children avoidably harmed by medical intervention to receive compensation and care. The report finds that families have waited too long for redress or compensation because litigation through the courts was the only option open to them. Ministers had rejected an alternative approach recommended by the independent Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety (IMMDS) review more than two years ago (‘First do no harm’) for a stand-alone redress agency.

• Report
• Press release

Government response to the independent inquiry report into the issues raised by former surgeon Ian Paterson: 12-month implementation progress update

Department of Health and Social Care -
The report of the independent inquiry into the issues raised by Paterson was published on 4 February 2020. This report details the government’s progress in implementing its response to the report of the independent inquiry into the issues raised by former surgeon Ian Paterson. It also includes details on how these actions have impacted the health system and where there remains ongoing activity. It is organised under four themes: patient-centred information; making challenge heard; ensuring accountability; and putting things right.

• Policy paper
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review: update report on government implementation

Department of Health and Social Care - 

This implementation report provides an update on the government’s progress to implement the 2021 government response to the 2020 Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review and improve patient safety. It sets out the steps the government is taking to implement the accepted strategic recommendations and actions for improvement and provides more detail on the government’s work on sodium valproate and pelvic mesh.

• Report
• More detail

The assessment of venous thromboembolism risks associated with pregnancy and the postnatal period

Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch -
This report finds that pregnant people could suffer a potentially fatal blood vessel blockage if their risk is not properly assessed during pregnancy and the first six weeks after birth. It aims to identify factors that limit the effectiveness of venous thromboembolism risk assessment policies and identify opportunities to improve patient safety.

• Report
• Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch - news

Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2018-20

MBRRACE-UK -
This report finds that pregnancy remains very safe in the UK. In 2017-2019 191 women, of the 2,173,810 giving birth, died during or up to six weeks after pregnancy; 495 during or up to one year after their pregnancy. This is a small, but not statistically significant, decrease in the overall maternal death rate. It outlines a need for recognition that women can be placed at additional risk by clinician behaviours which focus on concerns over a woman’s pregnancy rather than concerns over a woman herself. It also highlight the gaps that remain in mortality rates between women from deprived and affluent areas, women of different ages and women from different ethnic groups.

• Report
• MBRRACE-UK - publications

Reading the signals: maternity and neonatal services in East Kent – the report of the independent investigation

Department of Health and Social Care - 

Following concerns raised about the quality and outcomes of maternity and neonatal care, an independent investigation into maternity and neonatal services at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust was commissioned. The primary reason for this report is to set out the truth of what happened, so that maternity services in East Kent can begin to meet the standards expected nationally, for the sake of those to come. The report identifies four areas for action. The NHS could be much better at: identifying poorly performing units; giving care with compassion and kindness; teamworking with a common purpose; and responding to challenge with honesty.

• Report
• More detail

Safer care for all: solutions from professional regulation and beyond

Professional Standards Authority - 

This report highlights some of the biggest challenges affecting the quality and safety of health and social care across the UK today. It describes a ‘fragmented and complex’ patient and service user safety framework and calls for action to address the safety issues. The report's main recommendation is the appointment of an independent Health and Social Care Safety Commissioner (or equivalent) for each UK country. These commissioners would identify current, emerging, and potential risks across the whole health and social care system, and bring about the necessary action across organisations. The report goes on to consider four important themes: tackling inequalities; regulating for new risks; facing up to the workforce crisis; and accountability, fear and public safety.

• Report
• Press release

Guidance for emergency departments: initial assessment

NHS England - 

This guidance makes recommendations for models of initial assessment of patients arriving at emergency departments and provides standard definitions of the processes that classify as initial assessment: streaming, triage, and rapid assessment and treatment. It recognises that initial assessment and flow from the front door of a hospital are a crucial first step on a patient’s journey.

• Guidance
• More detail

Interim report

Infected Blood Inquiry - 

This report recommends that an interim payment of no less than £100,000 should be paid, without delay, to all those infected and all bereaved partners currently registered on UK infected blood support schemes, and those who register between now and the inception of any future scheme.

• Report
• More detail

System on a cliff edge: addressing challenges in social care capacity

NHS Confederation -
This report, based on a survey of NHS leaders across England, says staffing gaps and a lack of capacity in social care are putting the care and safety of patients in the NHS at risk. More than nine in ten NHS leaders warn of a social care workforce crisis in their area which they expect will get worse this winter. Almost all NHS leaders say that the most impactful solution would be better pay for social care staff and call for the Government to increase investment in social care as a priority.

• Report
• NHS Confederation - news