NHS England have launched a consultation on the existing Never Events Framework. ‘Never Events’ is the term used to describe incidents which have the potential to cause serious harm or death to patients but which are completely preventable as long as national guidance or safety recommendations are adhered to. The current Never Events framework...
LGBT+ History Month 2024 focuses on medicine and healthcare
The theme for LGBT+ History Month 2024 in the UK is ‘Medicine – #Under the Scope’ – designed to celebrate LGBT+ peoples’ contribution to medicine and healthcare, both now and in the past. Founded in 2004 by Schools OUT, LGBT+ History Month runs throughout February each year and aims to reclaim the past, celebrate...
HSE undertakes assurance inspections in the NHS
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is undertaking a series of assurance inspections in the NHS to assess how risks of workplace violence and aggression and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are managed. Inspectors from Britain’s health and safety watchdog are focusing on the findings and recommendations from the HSE’s 4-year inspection programme on the risk...
People with learning disabilities face ‘widespread risks’ in hospital
A health watchdog has found that people with learning disabilities face “persistent and widespread” risks to their safety in hospital. The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) reviewed the care that people with learning disabilities receive and found that their safety is often compromised when they are admitted to hospitals in England. The HSSIB...
Training failures in managing violence and MSDs in the NHS
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has identified failings, including in training, in relation to managing violence and aggression and musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) in the NHS. Britain’s health and safety watchdog carried out a targeted inspection programme on NHS trusts and boards between 2018 and 2022 to assess the management of risks from violence...
Six figure fine for health board that failed to follow safe working practices
A health board has been fined six figures after a patient died while being treated in hospital as a result of care that fell “below the required standards.” NHS Highland was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for failing to follow safe working practices in relation to the death of 78-year-old Colin...
Child mental health referrals up 39% after ‘difficult’ year
Referrals for child mental health services have risen by 39% in England in just one year, official data has revealed. NHS referrals for mental health treatment for under-18s increased to more than 1.1 million during 2021-22, compared to 839,570 in 2020-21, and 850,741 in 2019-20. The figures – branded “alarming” by the NSPCC –...
Parents urged to keep sick children at home
Parents have been urged to keep children away from school or nursery if they feel unwell and have a fever, as flu, Covid-19 and Strep A infections continue to rise. The advice was issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as families across the UK prepare for children to return to school and...
Half of frontline workers say job pressures are ‘out of control’
An 18-month long study into wellbeing within the emergency services has found that frontline healthcare workers are exhausted and at high risk of experiencing mental health disorders and burnout. The detailed report from mental health digital platform 87percent.co.uk, entitled The State of Mental Wellbeing on the Frontline, reveals that almost 1 in 2 (49%)...
Covid-19 shielding ends for millions
Today (Wednesday 31st March 2021) marks the final day that millions of the most clinically vulnerable people in England and Wales are advised to shield. Letters have been sent out to around 4 million clinically extremely vulnerable people over the last few weeks, advising them that they no longer need to shield at home....
1 in 4 frontline doctors seek mental health support
It has been revealed that a quarter of frontline doctors have sought mental health support during the coronavirus pandemic in the UK. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has published data showing that, after having faced one of the worst public health crises of the modern era, 1 in 4 doctors has sought mental...
Research reveals men’s mental health under pressure
Research by mental health charity Mind has revealed that men feel worried or low more regularly than they did 10 years ago. Mind compared new polling data from YouGov with results from the same survey conducted in 2009 to see how men’s experiences of mental health issues have changed over the past decade. They...