Wednesday, 26 March 2014

Jeremy Hunt is urging the NHS in England to reduce the number of serious mistakes

NHS urged to halve serious mistakes and save 6,000 lives

Hospital nursesA duty of candour was one of the recommendations of the Stafford Hospital public inquiry

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Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is urging the NHS in England to reduce the number of serious mistakes being made and save 6,000 lives over the next three years.
Mr Hunt said NHS trusts should draw up plans to halve "avoidable harm" such as medication errors, blood clots and bedsores by 2016-17.
He says this could stop a third of the preventable deaths in the coming years - equivalent to 6,000 lives saved.
The trusts that take action will get reduced premiums for insurance cover.
The push - called Sign up to Safety - will be voluntary and reliant on individual trusts identifying how many mistakes they make and coming up with plans to reduce them by half.
It is being primarily aimed at hospitals, but other trusts including those providing mental health and community services are also being invited to take part.
The drive is being accompanied by a number of other measures designed to improve safety in the health service.
These include the introduction of a duty of candour compelling the NHS to be open and honest with patients about mistakes. This was called for by the Francis Inquiry into the Stafford Hospital scandal.
'Biggest advance'
Mr Hunt, who on Wednesday will be making a speech on patient safety at a hospital in Seattle, which launched a big safety drive after a woman was accidentally injected with cleaning fluid and died, also said the NHS would be recruiting 5,000 safety champions.
These people will be in charge of identifying areas of unsafe care and developing solutions to fix it at a local level and will be supported by a national Safety Action for England (Safe) team. It will see doctors, managers and patients working together on safety.

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The government is failing to learn the lessons of the Francis Review - having handed out P45s to thousands of nurses and frontline staff”
Jamie ReedShadow health minister
A new section of the NHS Choices website will also be launched in June called "How Safe Is My Hospital" allowing patients to compare patient safety across a range of indicators.
Mr Hunt said: "It is my clear ambition that the NHS should become the safest healthcare system anywhere in the world.
"We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to save lives and prevent avoidable harm - which will empower staff and save money that can be re-invested in patient care."
Peter Walsh, of the campaign group Action Against Medical Accidents, praised Mr Hunt for his "leadership" on this issue.
He said the duty of candour was "potentially the biggest advance in patients' rights and patient safety since the creation of the NHS".
"For decades the NHS has frowned upon cover-ups but has been prepared to tolerate them. A lack of honesty when things go wrong adds insult to injury and causes unnecessary pain and suffering for everyone," he added.
But shadow health minister Jamie Reed said: "The government is failing to learn the lessons of the Francis Review - having handed out P45s to thousands of nurses and frontline staff.
"More than half of nurses now say their ward is dangerously understaffed, and more believe patient safety has got worse over the last year rather than better."

Wednesday, 19 March 2014

Izabelle Easen

When Izabelle Easen suffered an asthma attack in 2008, James McKenna declared her dead at the scene, ignoring rules stating he should continue resuscitation and get her to hospital for treatment that might have saved her life.
The inquest, at Doncaster Coroner's Court, is being held only after a Sky News investigation identified Izabelle from redacted minutes of McKenna's disciplinary hearing.
McKenna was struck off over his behaviour.
But Yorkshire Ambulance Service did not tell Izabelle's mother anything was wrong, nor was she informed a hearing was being held about her daughter's death.
McKenna was found to have mistreated other patients including a retired South Yorkshire teacher who was dying of cancer, with a hospital nurse telling the hearing the man suffered as a result.
The man's widow, who has asked not to be identified, was not told about the negligence but has not pushed for an inquest to protect his elderly mother from hearing the distressing details.
Sky's investigation uncovered a culture of secrecy in the NHS, with the regulator of paramedics, the Health Professions Council (HPC), and a number of ambulance services keeping details of paramedic misconduct from the families of dead patients.
In another case, Marion Giles was paid an out of court settlement by North East Ambulance Service after Sky News informed her that paramedic Brian Jewers was struck off over her husband's treatment.
A coroner subsequently ruled there had been a failure of care after Jewers refused to give Grahame Giles, 61, a vital injection following a heart attack in 2008.
Mr Giles' widow Marion Giles accused the NHS of criminal behaviour, while Izabelle's mother Lorna Easen said it was "morally wrong" she had not been told about what had happened

Friday, 21 February 2014

Blair 'advised Brooks before arrest/Ken Macdonald

Phone-hacking trial: Blair 'advised Brooks before arrest'

Rebekah Brooks and Tony Blair
Tony Blair advised Rebekah Brooks six days before her arrest over phone hacking, a court has heard

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Tony Blair gave advice to newspaper executive Rebekah Brooks on handling the phone-hacking scandal six days before her arrest, a court has heard.
The court heard Mrs Brooks spoke to the former prime minister and passed on what he had said to James Murdoch, then News International executive chairman.
In an email, she said Mr Blair had said he was "available" to her, James and Rupert Murdoch as an "unofficial adviser", the Old Bailey heard.
Mrs Brooks denies any wrongdoing.
In the email, Mrs Brooks said Mr Blair had urged her to set up a "Hutton style" inquiry - a reference to the inquiry into the death of government weapons adviser Dr David Kelly.
She said Mr Blair's offer of further advice "needs to be between us".
The Hutton report exonerated Mr Blair and other officials over claims they exaggerated the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction in Iraq in a dossier of evidence.
Copy of the email sent by Rebekah Brooks to James Murdock following a conversation with Tony Blair
Mrs Brooks sent the email on Monday 11 July 2011 - the day after the final edition of the News of the World had been published.
She resigned as News International's chief executive the following Friday, and was arrested on Sunday.
During the email exchange, she told Mr Murdoch there was no indication that the News of the World had suffered from a sales boycott on its final weekend.
'Tough up'
Her email read: "I had an hour on the phone to Tony Blair.
"He said:
"1. Form an independent unit that has an outside junior counsel, Ken Macdonald [former director of public prosecutions], a great and good type, a serious forensic criminal barrister, internal counsel, proper fact checkers etc in it. Get them to investigate me and others and publish a Hutton-style report.

Who are the defendants?

Hacking trial defendants
"2. Publish part one of the report at same time as the police closes its inquiry and clear you and accept shortcomings and new solutions and process and part two when any trials are over.
"3. Keep strong and definitely sleeping pills. Need to have clear heads and remember no rash short-term solutions as they only give you long-term headaches.
"4. It will pass. Tough up.
"5. He is available for you, KRM [Rupert Murdoch] and me as an unofficial adviser but needs to be between us. He is sending more notes later."
Mr Blair's office issued a statement later, saying: "This was Mr Blair simply giving informal advice over the phone.
"He made it absolutely clear to Ms Brooks that, though he knew nothing personally about the facts of the case, in a situation as serious as this it was essential to have a fully transparent and independent process to get to the bottom of what had happened.
"That inquiry should be led by credible people, get all the facts out there and that if anything wrong were found there should be immediate action taken and the changes to the organisation made so that they could not happen again."
The defence case for Mrs Brooks is expected to start later this week.
She denies conspiracy to hack voicemails, conspiracy to make corrupt payments to public officials and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Mrs Brooks is one of seven defendants in the phone-hacking trial. They all deny the various charges.

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Monday, 17 February 2014

Asian people do have Asperger's Syndrome

How Asperger's reignited a passion for art

Singh Tattal's drawing of Sikh Soldiers Raj Singh Tattal's drawing of Sikh Soldiers
At the age of 38, artist Raj Singh Tattal was unemployed and depressed. Then he received a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome and everything changed.
Singh Tattal - also known as the "Pen-Tacular-Artist" now finally understands his obsessive tendency to draw pictures for hours on end. It is a common symptom of the autism spectrum disorder.
He has learned to let the condition drive his creativity, and this year he has four exhibitions lined up in his hometown, London.
In an interview with Ouch, Singh Tattal talks about his obsessions, support networks and being part of the Sikh community.

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Raj Singh Tattal
I'm very obsessive. Where other people might take a month, each of my drawings takes four days”
How does Asperger's Syndrome affect you?
I'm very obsessive. Where other people might take a month, each of my drawings takes four days. I'm very reclusive as well - I probably spend 95% of the time by myself.
I don't really like change. I haven't been out of London for 12 years, I have multiple pairs of the same trainers and I've eaten baked beans every day for 20 years.
Some of this stuff sounds quite trivial, but over time it starts annoying people around you.
When I'm at home I don't sit with my family in the living room and have only started eating downstairs to try and make an effort. People used to think I was depressed because I was in my room but actually I was depressed when I had to leave it.
I started drinking over the years to try and fit in with people and have had friends in the past, but at the moment I have zero friends. I don't drink, I just draw - and I am the happiest I've ever been.
How has your life changed since the diagnosis?
Once I got diagnosed, I decided to change my lifestyle.
Rather than use my obsessive nature on silly things like games or films, I decided to focus on drawing.
Drawing used to be a passion, but you hadn't drawn for 11 years until your diagnosis. Why?
I have such an obsessive nature that when I draw, I don't just do it now and then, I put in ridiculous hours.
That's not very good for looking for work or trying to work, so I had to stop.
When I started again, I decided to go full force. I've been practising drawing for 14 months in my room.
I knew the standard I wanted to get to and now that I'm there, I'm happy to show my work to people.
What are your drawings like?
They are all black and white, graphite and charcoal drawings. I don't do one particular subject. I've done a lot of comic-based drawings and I'm doing some artwork on emotions, people in distress. It's not because I'm a morbid person but because I've gone through a really dark space. I relate to the sad ones.
Singh Tattal's drawing of an astronaut
What's it like being a Sikh on the spectrum?
I've been going to my support group for a year and I've only ever met one other Asian person. That's not because
It's because Asian people tend to cover it up. It's not something they really talk about. If I was from a white English family, people would have picked up my symptoms very young because I was a typical Asperger's kid.
I'm now slowly telling my relatives - who I don't even know because I'm so reclusive. I've started talking to them over Facebook because I want to make an effort now.
What do you gain by going to a support group?
I've always hated myself, because I'm a pretty intelligent guy - I managed to get myself a degree - but after so many problems, I started to think that I was a failure. People make you feel like you're a bad person because you can't do certain things.
Going (to the support group), you see people who are similar to you and you realise that they're really good people. It makes you look at yourself in a different way.
I would recommend anybody who's on the spectrum - or even thinks they are - just to turn up. Even if you are depressed, it is nice and comforting to speak to other people who can give you advice and help you out.
Why did you give a present to your local Sikh temple?
When you start a new career, you normally give a gift. The present is a drawing of the Sikh's 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He has the heart of a saint and the body of a warrior and I've always aspired to be like that.
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Social Workers

Social work training needs upgrading, says Martin Narey

Anonymous girlWorkers looking after children should specialise at university, says Sir Martin

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The training of social workers in England needs upgrading, with more emphasis put on practical skills, a government adviser has said.
Sir Martin Narey also suggests some of the students recruited are not up to the job and that course standards vary.
He is calling for tighter minimum entry standards and the standardisation of what is taught.
The British Association of Social Workers says there is scope to improve the quality of training.
However, it said university education was only part of the story.
Sir Martin, the former head of the prison service in England and Wales and the charity Barnardo's, advises the Education Secretary Michael Gove on children's social care.
He was asked to look at initial social work training.
He said in his report: "I reject entirely the suggestion that we do not currently produce some very good social workers.
"But there are universities and colleges where entry and academic standards appear to be too low and where the preparation of students for children's social work is too often inadequate."
He said standards were "variable" and many employers thought graduates were sometimes inadequately prepared for "the challenge of children's social work".
"There is too little clarity on what a children's social worker should know at graduation - that needs to change, quickly - and there is a question mark over the entry calibre of too many students," he said.
"We need greater assurance about both the academic standards and the quality of work experience at different universities."
Controversial
The report quotes statistics suggesting that since 2003, just one in three social work students has had one or more A-level.
Entrants are now meant to have at least the equivalent of three A-levels at grade C, Sir Martin wrote, but the feeling was that some universities were accepting people with lower qualifications.
He is calling for that entry requirement to be adhered to.
The Association of British Social workers says the tightening of entry requirements will prove controversial, with many arguing that some people enter social work later in life with other relevant experience.
The report says another key issue is a lack of clarity about what trainee social workers should be taught at university.
Sir Martin calls for the chief social worker, Isabelle Trowler, to produce a clear definition of what a newly qualified children's social worker needs to understand and be able to do.
Confidence
Universities, he said, should use this checklist as the basis for their courses.
In total, Sir Martin made 18 recommendations, which he said could be implemented at "minimal cost".
Welcoming Sir Martin's report, the Education Secretary Michael Gove said "too many social workers are leaving university today ill-prepared for their vital role working to protect at risk children."
He said that while the report revealed there are some good undergraduate courses, and many more post-graduate ones, "too many" prospective social workers were "ill-equipped" to meet the demands of the job.
"Children's social work requires a uniquely fine balance of moral, legal, practical and psychological considerations; challenge as well as support; a hard intellect as well as a generous heart," Mr Gove said.
"We want to see universities demand more of prospective social workers."
The British Association of Social Work said there was scope to improve training offered at some universities and that it wanted to see high calibre students entering the profession.
Chief executive Bridget Robb said: "Sir Michael clearly has the best interests of children at heart but... university education is only part of the story.
"Social workers must have high quality on-the-job placements."
The College of Social Work, which would become the inspector of social work training courses under Sir Martin's proposals, welcomed the report.
Chair Jo Cleary said: "This report testifies to the enormous contribution of social workers and recognises the credibility and strength of the College of Social Work in promoting the highest standards of practice.
"It is vital that everyone qualifying as a social worker is of the highest calibre and has the necessary knowledge, skills and resilience for working in what is undoubtedly one of the most challenging of public services."

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Wednesday, 5 February 2014

China has already been coping with an outbreak of a similar influenza virus called H7N9

New strain of 'deadly' bird flu


Avian influenzaExperts are concerned that the virus could mutate to spread far and wide

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Experts are concerned about the spread of a new strain of bird flu that has already killed one woman in China.
The 73-year-old from Nanchang City caught the H10N8 virus after visiting a live poultry market, although it is not known for sure if this was the source of infection.
A second person has since become infected in China's Jiangxi province.
Scientists told The Lancet the potential for it to become a pandemic "should not be underestimated".

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Previously we did not think that H7N9 infections might be so lethal. Now we also must consider H10N8 infections as well”
Dr John McCauleyDirector of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Influenza
This particular strain of influenza A virus has not been seen before.
In recent months, China has already been coping with an outbreak of a similar influenza virus called H7N9, which has killed around a quarter of those infected.
Pandemic risk
Scientists who have studied the new H10N8 virus say it has evolved some genetic characteristics that may allow it to replicate efficiently in humans.
The concern is that it could ultimately be able to spread from person to person, although experts stress that there is no evidence of this yet.
Dr Mingbin Liu from Nanchang City Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said: "A second case of H10N8 was identified in Jiangxi province, China, on 26 January 2014. This is of great concern because it reveals that the H10N8 virus has continued to circulate and may cause more human infections in future."
Ducks at poultry marketExperts believe the source of infection may have been contaminated poultry at a market
Dr Linda Klavinskis, senior lecturer in immunobiology at King's College London, said there was no immediate threat.

Bird flu

  • Bird flu or avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus
  • These viruses do not normally infect humans, but some particularly virulent strains, such as H10N8, can and will
  • In most cases, the people infected had been in close contact with infected poultry or with objects contaminated by their faeces
  • There is concern that the virus could mutate to become more easily transmissible between humans, raising the possibility of an influenza pandemic
Dr John McCauley, director of the WHO[World Health Organization] Collaborating Centre for Influenza, MRC [Medical Research Council] National Institute for Medical Research, said: "The potential epidemiological significance of this zoonotic infection is not clear. Avian influenza viruses of the sub-type H10N8 are probably not particularly unusual. Whether there were complications in this case is unclear.
"This case reminds us to be aware of human infections from animal influenza viruses, like the H7N9 cases in China which increase daily. Previously we did not think that H7N9 infections might be so lethal. Now we also must consider H10N8 infections as well."
Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, said: "We should always be worried when viruses cross the species barrier from birds or animals to humans as it is very unlikely that we will have prior immunity to protect us.
"We should be especially worried when those viruses show characteristics that suggest they have the capacity to replicate easily or to be virulent or resistant to drugs. This virus ticks several of these boxes and therefore is a cause for concern."
Are you in China? Or have you recently visited? How concerned are you about the spread of the virus? Send us your comments using the form below.

Tuesday, 4 February 2014

NHS web page error sent users to malicious websites

NHS signHundreds of pages on the NHS site were affected

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A "coding error" on the NHS website exposed users to harmful websites rather than health advice.
More than 800 pages on NHS.uk automatically redirected unsuspecting users to pages that contain either malware or advertising.
In a statement, the NHS said its site had not been maliciously attacked and that it had fixed the problem.
"An internal coding error has caused an incorrect redirect on some pages on NHS Choices since Sunday evening," a statement explained.
"Routine security checks alerted us to this problem on Monday morning at which point we identified the problem and corrected the code."
Typo blamed
Reddit user Muzzers said he had stumbled across an infected page while he had been browsing for information about the flu.
"Digging a bit deeper I found hundreds more pages which redirect to either an advertisement or malware infested page," he wrote.
Users trying to find details on dementia, pregnancy, vaccinations, mental health and other areas also found themselves sent to the malicious pages.
The fault occurred due to a typo within the NHS website's source code.
A developer accidentally wrote "googleaspis.com" rather than "googleapis.com" when creating the site.
The mistake went unnoticed until the incorrectly-spelt address was registered by someone in the Czech Republic over the weekend, and was then used to capitalise on the error.
The NHS said the site would not be completely clear of the problem until later on Monday.
It added: "NHS Choices is treating this issue with urgency and once resolved we plan to undertake a thorough and detailed analysis to ensure that a full code review is undertaken and steps put in place to ensure no reoccurrence."

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