This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42347942
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NHS in England told to reveal avoidable deaths data | NHS in England told to reveal avoidable deaths data |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The NHS in England is to become the first healthcare system in the world to publish figures on avoidable patient deaths, the health secretary has said. | The NHS in England is to become the first healthcare system in the world to publish figures on avoidable patient deaths, the health secretary has said. |
| By the end of 2017, some 170 out of 223 trusts will publish data on deaths they believe could have been prevented. | By the end of 2017, some 170 out of 223 trusts will publish data on deaths they believe could have been prevented. |
| It is estimated there are up to 9,000 deaths in hospitals each year caused by failings in NHS care. | It is estimated there are up to 9,000 deaths in hospitals each year caused by failings in NHS care. |
| The Department for Health said it wanted to ensure the NHS learned lessons from every case. | The Department for Health said it wanted to ensure the NHS learned lessons from every case. |
| There is no standard definition of an avoidable death and each hospital trust makes its own judgment. | There is no standard definition of an avoidable death and each hospital trust makes its own judgment. |
| The data released by the organisations will include details of reviews and investigations into deaths, and information on any action taken as a result. | The data released by the organisations will include details of reviews and investigations into deaths, and information on any action taken as a result. |
| Bereaved relatives | Bereaved relatives |
| As part of the release from more than three quarters of England's trusts, families of patients will also be given full explanations over relatives' deaths. | As part of the release from more than three quarters of England's trusts, families of patients will also be given full explanations over relatives' deaths. |
| These explanations, the department says, will be used to support bereaved relatives and carers, and will ensure they are treated with empathy, compassion and respect. | These explanations, the department says, will be used to support bereaved relatives and carers, and will ensure they are treated with empathy, compassion and respect. |
| Out of a total of around 240,000 deaths in hospital, the government says there are between 1,200 and 9,000 deaths each year caused by problems with care. | Out of a total of around 240,000 deaths in hospital, the government says there are between 1,200 and 9,000 deaths each year caused by problems with care. |
| Two cases highlighted by the government are that of 18-year-old Connor Sparrowhawk and one-year-old William Mead. | Two cases highlighted by the government are that of 18-year-old Connor Sparrowhawk and one-year-old William Mead. |
| In 2013, Connor Sparrowhawk died in the care of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust at Slade House in Oxford. The trust has accepted his death was "entirely preventable". | In 2013, Connor Sparrowhawk died in the care of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust at Slade House in Oxford. The trust has accepted his death was "entirely preventable". |
| Meanwhile, an NHS England report into the death of William Mead said he might have lived if 111 call handlers had realised the seriousness of his condition. | Meanwhile, an NHS England report into the death of William Mead said he might have lived if 111 call handlers had realised the seriousness of his condition. |
| William, from Cornwall, died of blood poisoning after a chest infection. | William, from Cornwall, died of blood poisoning after a chest infection. |
| 'Dignity in death' | 'Dignity in death' |
| Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts in England, said it was "right" that patient safety was made a priority. | Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts in England, said it was "right" that patient safety was made a priority. |
| "It is important this work is carried forward in the spirit of learning and sharing good practice, rather than recriminations," he said. | "It is important this work is carried forward in the spirit of learning and sharing good practice, rather than recriminations," he said. |
| Some avoidable deaths are deemed to have occurred among terminally-ill patients who might have lived longer if they had spent their final weeks at home - and Mr Hopson added too many patients were still dying in hospital. | Some avoidable deaths are deemed to have occurred among terminally-ill patients who might have lived longer if they had spent their final weeks at home - and Mr Hopson added too many patients were still dying in hospital. |
| Announcing the roll-out, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said each trust was being asked to use the same methodology to determine whether a death was preventable or not. | Announcing the roll-out, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said each trust was being asked to use the same methodology to determine whether a death was preventable or not. |
| But he added the data released could not be used to rank trusts against each other because of different reporting procedures used when mistakes happened. | But he added the data released could not be used to rank trusts against each other because of different reporting procedures used when mistakes happened. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today: "It's about hospitals creating a culture which makes it easy for staff on the frontline to say, 'look, something went wrong; I think it could have had a different outcome and we need to learn from this so it doesn't happen again'." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today: "It's about hospitals creating a culture which makes it easy for staff on the frontline to say, 'look, something went wrong; I think it could have had a different outcome and we need to learn from this so it doesn't happen again'." |