Cut Costs | Reduce Risks | Improve Performance

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Almost one third of the 1,804 serious incidents resulting in death reported to The National Patient Safety Agency in 2005 were considered avoidable.
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Multiple failures of procedure foster the conditions for serious errors to occur.
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Better policy management can reduce the frequency and impact of incidents on patient safety.
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"NHS Lanarkshire regularly receives 'Safety Action Notices' from the Scottish Executive Health division (SEHD) and it is essential that the Trust communicates these to the relevant staff as simply and as quickly as possible to minimise patient risk.

Moreover, the Trust needs to be sure that everyone has received these notices, providing proof if necessary. NETconsent simplifies this whole process and gives us greater confidence in our communication process."

Gavin Cox, Head of IT Infrastructure, NHS
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Medway & Tunbridge Wells NHS trust, Stoke Mandeville

Headlines your Trust will want to avoid!

  • "90 killed by bug in filthy hospital"
  • "Hospital failed to tackle bug"
  • "A step back to the dark age of medicine"
  • "Policy - not fit for purpose"
  • "Senior managers to face criminal negligence or manslaughter charges"

The Problem - Health Acquired Infections & other avoidable errors

Most safety incidents, such as HAI occur under ‘error producing’ conditions:

  • Weak safety cultures
  • Poor team working
  • Weak communications processes
  • Lack of knowledge
  • Lack of supervision
  • Lack of Leadership

The Answer - Robust implementation of clinical policy

The Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections published in October 2006 requires NHS bodies to demonstrate compliance with national guidance and good practice in infection prevention and control in order to minimise the risk of infection to patients.

The Code of Practice requires Trusts to have a specific policy on the prevention and control of C. difficile infections. All Trusts should ensure that these are effectively implemented.

Latest National Recommendations

How will you respond to the recommendations within the Healthcare Commission's recent report (Investigation into outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Investigation into outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust October 2007)?

  • The diagnosis of C. difficile needs to be regarded as a diagnosis in its own right, with proper continuity of management.
  • Commissioners of care should ensure that acute trusts have appropriate guidelines for the prevention and management of this infection, including the care of patients who acquire it.
  • Further consideration needs to be given to the education and supervision of trainee doctors.....
  • The message needs to be reinforced that antibiotics are potentially dangerous drugs.....
  • The NHS and the Health Protection Agency should agree clear and consistent arrangements for the monitoring of rates of C. difficile infection....
  • The board of every NHS trust must understand the role and responsibilities of the director for infection prevention and control, and receive regularly, information about incidence and trends in healthcare associated infections within their areas of responsibility. (Duty 2 of the hygiene code addresses this issue)

 

Efficient communication - NETconsent Policy Management Software

NETconsent is a powerful suite of policy management and communication modules, which can help your organisation address compliance issues, whilst cutting administration costs.

NETconsent automates all the administrative procedures associated with the distribution and maintenance of an efficient NHS policy management system.

  • Create & update policies
  • Distribute policies
  • Record consent
  • Test understanding
  • Report compliance
  • Audit process
  • Survey employee opinion

 

Arrange a Demo

 For a no obligation discussion and/or demonstration of NETconsent policy management software call +44 (0)870 013 1600 or email info@netconsent.com