Failing NHS negligence system must change, say MPs

via BBC News | April 2022 | Failing NHS negligence system must change, say MPs

A major reform of the way NHS clinical negligence claims are handled in England is needed, MPs say.

The House of Commons’ Health and Social Care Committee said the current system was too adversarial, leading to bitter and long legal fights for patients.

More than £2bn a year is paid out on claims, but 25 per cent goes to legal fees.

An independent body should be set up to adjudicate on cases and the need to prove individual fault should be scrapped, the cross-party group said.

Instead, the focus should be whether the system failed, which the MPs believe would create a better culture for learning from mistakes.

Full story from BBC News

Enablers for success: virtual wards including hospital at home

NHS England and NHS Improvement | April 2022 | Enablers for success: virtual wards including hospital at home

NHS England and NHS Improvement are asking all Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to extend or introduce the virtual ward model. This document supports ICSs with their strategic and financial decisions on virtual ward planning and implementation. Designed for ICS leadership teams, but will also be helpful for provider organisations as they plan together to implement this model.

This guidance starts a two-year funded transformation programme to support the development of virtual wards, operating to standardised clinical models, across every area of England. Further clinical guidance is being developed to support local organisations to operationalise virtual wards and will be made available on the FutureNHS website

Enablers for success: virtual wards including hospital at home

The School for Change Agents

Horizons NHS | n.d.| The School for Change Agents

The School is aimed at anyone who works in health and care, at whatever level and whether they are in a clinical or non-clinical role – although it is open to everyone and all are welcome. The School offers the opportunity to take their desire to see change happen and make it a reality.

The School for Change Agents [free, but requires registration with Future Learn]

School for Change Agents Live Sessions [live sessions]

Register to take part [Future Learn] The School for Change Agents

Making a difference with digital technologies: identifying and evaluating benefits

HFMA | April 2022 | Making a difference with digital technologies: identifying and evaluating benefits

Digital technologies such as digital medicine, genomics, artificial intelligence and robotics have a huge potential to transform the delivery of healthcare. These technologies can empower patients to participate actively in their care, with a greater focus on wellbeing and prevention. They also support the prediction of individual disease risk and personalise the management of long-term conditions. 

Ensuring that investment in digital technologies makes a difference is key to sustainable transformation.

Image source: HFMA Description:

This briefing focuses on identifying and realising benefits for digital transformation. It is not a comprehensive guide to benefits management, but explores some of the key issues, illustrated with examples. It covers:

  • understanding the problem that needs solving
  • making the case for investment by identifying the potential benefits
  • understanding the resource impact of new care models
  • defining the metrics and identifying sources of evidence
  • measuring success.

Making a difference with digital technologies: identifying and evaluating benefits [news release]

Making a difference with digital technologies: identifying and evaluating benefits [briefing]

UKRI report outlines key priorities for climate change adaptation

UK Research and Innovation | UKRI report outlines key priorities for climate change adaptation

This report from the UK Research and Innovation summarises the findings of an international events series hosted by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) last year in the run up to the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow.

The COP26 adaptation and resilience events series showcased collaborative, locally-led and globally relevant research aligned to the UK COP26 presidency’s adaptation loss and damage theme.

Image source: ukri.org

It focused on how we can respond to and prepare for the impacts of climate change in a wide range of locations across the globe.

The report concludes that speedy and collaborative action is key to adapting to climate change.

Tackling climate change: Adaptation and resilience opportunities [report]

UKRI report outlines key priorities for climate change adaptation [press release]

Virtual wards and Covid-19: An explainer

Nuffield Trust | April 2022 | Virtual wards and Covid-19: An explainer

This explainer from the Nuffield Trust explores how Covid- 19 has led to further research and pilot schemes exploring their use.

Some of the aims of these virtual ward services were to:

  • provide patients with appropriate care in the appropriate place (e.g. avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions or readmissions) and quickly identifying and escalating patients who required further treatment (e.g. in hospital)
  • reduce infection transmission
  • shorten length of stay in hospital.

Image source: nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Image description: shows patient journey with Covid-19 virtual wards

Nuffield Trust Virtual wards and Covid-19: An explainer

HQIP: National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death: Review of Health Inequalities Short Report

Health Quality Improvement Programme | April 2022 | National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death: Review of Health Inequalities Short Report

The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) has published its latest report into health inequalities. Based on NCEPOD reports over the last 15 years and data collections in progress, the report reviews data to identify themes relating to healthcare inequalities.

The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) has published its latest report into health inequalities. Based on NCEPOD reports over the last 15 years and data collections in progress, the report reviews data to identify themes relating to healthcare inequalities.

Image source: hqip.org.uk

Image shows a pair of scissors cutting the word inequality to make equality

Overall, the report identified four areas of healthcare inequalities: protected characteristics – age and disability, socioeconomic deprivation, organisation of healthcare services and inclusion health groups. Key findings include:

  • Inequality due to age was visible in NCEPOD studies that reviewed the care provided to the elderly and to children and young people
  • Socioeconomic deprivation was visible in the care provided to children and young people and to adults
  • Many children and young people have to travel long distances to received specialist care which can separate them from their family.

The report also highlighted hospital admissions as an opportunity to intervene in the general healthcare of vulnerable young people and adults who may not be accessing primary care of looking after their general health.

How data captured by NCEPOD supports the identification of healthcare inequalities a review – 2022

Quality Improvement Grand Round: Maternity Care

Q Health| nd | Quality Improvement Grand Round: Maternity Care

Midwives from Yeovil District Hospital, Somerset share their story of service improvement at this webinar on 10 May 2022 12:00 – 13:00

Health and social care colleagues are warmly invited to a virtual event to find out about a quality improvement project that has the rare combination of being both heart-wrenching and heart-warming.

Midwives Bea Chubb and Becky Cockings from Yeovil District Hospital are sharing their work on unconscious attitudes and associated stereotypes in maternity care. The event will be hosted by Somerset NHS FT chief nurse, Hayley Peters, with a live Q&A after the presentation.

Register your place and send any queries by emailing: improvement@somersetft.nhs.uk

Full details from Q Health