Patient Safety Horizon Scanning Volume 1 Issue 2

Safer Care North East

Source:  NHS North East – Patient Safety 

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Date of publication:  May 2010

Publication type:  Strategy

In a nutshell:  This document outlines the patient safety framework “The Safer Care North East – Strategic Framework”, produced by NHS North East Patient Safety Forum, which focuses on a number of patient safety areas including: improvement, leadership and alignment, people, systems and processes, measuring success, ensuring safety.

Length of publication:  1 web page

New Insulin Safety Guidance Issued to Reduce Wrong Dosages

Source:  National Reporting and Learning Service, National Patient Safety Agency

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Date of publication:  June 2010

Publication type: Guidance

In a nutshell:  Rapid Response Report guidance seeking to reduce the number of wrong dose incidents involving insulin. For immediate action by NHS organisations and the independent sector.

Length of publication:  1 webpage

Acknowledgements:  National Patient Safety Agency

Engaging patients as vigilant partners in safety: a systematic review

Source:  Medical Care Research and Review.  Vol 67(2)  pp 119-149

Date of publication:  April 2010

Publication type:  Systematic Review

In a nutshell:  The article is a systematic review which looks a the feasibility and effectivess of the initiatives being used to prevent errors by promoting patient involvement .   21 studies were used in this review as they fulfilled the inclusion criteria used.

The study looks at the feasibility and effectiveness of the initiatives being used to prevent errors by promoting patient involvement. The results indicate that patients display positive attitudes towards engaging in their safety but their level of involvement varies. The perceived effectiveness of actions, self-efficacy, behavioural control beliefs, prevention of incidents are key issues for patients’ intenting to engage in their safety.

Length of publication:  29 pages

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article.  Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgements:  EMBASE

A Framework for the Development of Patient Safety Education and Training Guidelines

Source:  Studies in Health Technology and Informatics  155 pp189-195

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Date of publication:  June 2010

Publication  type:  Journal article.

In a nutshell:  This article looks at the need for greater attention to be paid to ensuring that there is an education and training framework for patients, carers and staff.  The framework is based on the results of a project carried out by the European Network for Patient Safety (EUNetPaS). 

Length of publication:  6 pages

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article.  Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

For more information follow this link to the EUNetPaS website.

Acknowledgements:  MEDLINE

Patient Safety matters : reducing the risks of nasogastric tubes

Source:  Clinical Medicine: Journal of the Royal College of Physicians.  10(3)  pp. 228-230

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Date of publication:  June 2010

Publication type:  Journal article

In a nutshell:  The procedure of inserting nasogastric tubes by nurses and doctors is common within NHS hospital.  There have been a number of reports issued over the past 30 years into the results of wrong insertion, even death.  This article looks at the safety alert issued by the National Patient Safety Agency in England and how effective this has been to prevent errors from wrong insertion.

Length of publication:  3 pages

Some important notes:  Please  contact your local NHS library for the full text of the article.  Follow this link to find your local NHS library

Acknowledgements:  EMBASE.

QIPP: Patient safety will drive cash savings

Source:  http://www.healthexec.tv

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Date of publication:  July 2010

Publication type:  Interview

In a nutshell:  An interview with Maxine Power, National Improvement Lead for Quality and Efficiency who explains how the Department of Health is putting safety at the centre of improvement programmes by  engaging with 100 boards, thereby making savings which can be reinvested into patient care.

Some important notes:  You will need to register to view the video.  Registration is free.