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| IT failures causing patient deaths, says NHS safety body | IT failures causing patient deaths, says NHS safety body |
| (17 days later) | |
| Dr Rosie Benneyworth, interim head of the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), said computer failings were found in nearly every investigation they carried out | Dr Rosie Benneyworth, interim head of the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), said computer failings were found in nearly every investigation they carried out |
| Urgent action is needed to address NHS computer failings which are causing harm to patients, the patient safety watchdog has told BBC News. | Urgent action is needed to address NHS computer failings which are causing harm to patients, the patient safety watchdog has told BBC News. |
| The watchdog has evidence of patient deaths due to IT system errors. | The watchdog has evidence of patient deaths due to IT system errors. |
| The government called the reports "concerning" and said it would work with NHS England to take necessary action to protect patients. | The government called the reports "concerning" and said it would work with NHS England to take necessary action to protect patients. |
| A recent BBC investigation found thousands of hospital letters were unsent due to computer issues. | A recent BBC investigation found thousands of hospital letters were unsent due to computer issues. |
| The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) says IT failures are among the most serious issues facing hospitals in England. | The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) says IT failures are among the most serious issues facing hospitals in England. |
| "We have seen evidence of patient deaths as a result of IT systems not working," said interim head, Dr Rosie Benneyworth. | "We have seen evidence of patient deaths as a result of IT systems not working," said interim head, Dr Rosie Benneyworth. |
| Dr Benneyworth cited the example of a patient who was found unresponsive and then wrongly identified by healthcare staff as not wishing to be resuscitated. | Dr Benneyworth cited the example of a patient who was found unresponsive and then wrongly identified by healthcare staff as not wishing to be resuscitated. |
| Staff were unable to access information on the patient quickly through their IT system, which would have shown a mistake had been made, said the watchdog. | Staff were unable to access information on the patient quickly through their IT system, which would have shown a mistake had been made, said the watchdog. |
| Electronic upgrade | Electronic upgrade |
| An NHS England spokesperson said £900m had been invested to help hospital trusts upgrade electronic patient record systems, to quicken doctors' access to information. | An NHS England spokesperson said £900m had been invested to help hospital trusts upgrade electronic patient record systems, to quicken doctors' access to information. |
| 24,000 hospital letters lost in computer error | 24,000 hospital letters lost in computer error |
| Hospital NHS trust failed to send 400,000 letters | Hospital NHS trust failed to send 400,000 letters |
| Dr Benneyworth said computer failings were found in virtually every HSSIB investigation. | Dr Benneyworth said computer failings were found in virtually every HSSIB investigation. |
| She describes poorly set up and badly used software, with some systems incompatible with others. | She describes poorly set up and badly used software, with some systems incompatible with others. |
| "We need to see much faster action in this area so that patients don't come to any further harm," Dr Benneyworth said. | "We need to see much faster action in this area so that patients don't come to any further harm," Dr Benneyworth said. |
| The watchdog says examples of serious harm to patients due to IT failures include: | The watchdog says examples of serious harm to patients due to IT failures include: |
| a patient diagnosed with lung cancer, but not followed up because of IT problems, who died two months later | a patient diagnosed with lung cancer, but not followed up because of IT problems, who died two months later |
| another, given the wrong medications because of a mix-up with their electronic notes, who died 18 days later | another, given the wrong medications because of a mix-up with their electronic notes, who died 18 days later |
| The HSSIB wants NHS England to issue guidance to all healthcare organisations to improve staff access to critical patient information. | The HSSIB wants NHS England to issue guidance to all healthcare organisations to improve staff access to critical patient information. |
| One of the biggest and busiest trusts, Guy's and St Thomas' in London, suffered a catastrophic failure when their IT system went down last summer, during a heatwave. A report, external showed operations were cancelled when doctors could not access medical records, putting some patients at serious risk. | One of the biggest and busiest trusts, Guy's and St Thomas' in London, suffered a catastrophic failure when their IT system went down last summer, during a heatwave. A report, external showed operations were cancelled when doctors could not access medical records, putting some patients at serious risk. |
| Nizam Mamode, a professor of transplant surgery at Guy's and Great Ormond Street Hospitals, until he retired last year before the incident, said IT problems were a major issue. | Nizam Mamode, a professor of transplant surgery at Guy's and Great Ormond Street Hospitals, until he retired last year before the incident, said IT problems were a major issue. |
| He told the BBC: "There is significant potential for error, for problems arising, for harm arising and I think, therefore, it's one of the most urgent issues that the NHS faces." | He told the BBC: "There is significant potential for error, for problems arising, for harm arising and I think, therefore, it's one of the most urgent issues that the NHS faces." |
| In October, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust launched a new £450m electronic patient record system, jointly with King's College Hospital, aiming to deliver "major improvements". | In October, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust launched a new £450m electronic patient record system, jointly with King's College Hospital, aiming to deliver "major improvements". |
| Prof Mamode said letters failing to reach GPs from hospitals could also lead to significant patient harm. | Prof Mamode said letters failing to reach GPs from hospitals could also lead to significant patient harm. |
| 'I didn't know if I had cancer' | 'I didn't know if I had cancer' |
| Martin Dawe, from County Durham, contacted the BBC following its investigation into lost hospital letters. | Martin Dawe, from County Durham, contacted the BBC following its investigation into lost hospital letters. |
| After waiting weeks for medical test results, Mr Dawe, 54, was shocked to see three serious medical conditions, including cancer, on his NHS app profile. | After waiting weeks for medical test results, Mr Dawe, 54, was shocked to see three serious medical conditions, including cancer, on his NHS app profile. |
| "There were prostate cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and also pulmonary fibrosis. All three of these I've never been told about," he said. | "There were prostate cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and also pulmonary fibrosis. All three of these I've never been told about," he said. |
| He made an appointment to see his GP and was told these diseases were not listed on his record at the surgery, leaving him "dumbfounded". | He made an appointment to see his GP and was told these diseases were not listed on his record at the surgery, leaving him "dumbfounded". |
| After the BBC contacted his hospital trust to find out more, Martin was told a nurse had wrongly added a prostate cancer diagnosis to his notes. | After the BBC contacted his hospital trust to find out more, Martin was told a nurse had wrongly added a prostate cancer diagnosis to his notes. |
| Martin Dawe was shocked to find serious conditions he had never been told about, listed on his NHS profile | Martin Dawe was shocked to find serious conditions he had never been told about, listed on his NHS profile |
| In a statement, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said the mistake was resulted from "human error" and in no way related to any IT issues. | In a statement, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said the mistake was resulted from "human error" and in no way related to any IT issues. |
| "It is clear there has been some delay in communication with Mr Dawe about his care and we apologise for this on our part." | "It is clear there has been some delay in communication with Mr Dawe about his care and we apologise for this on our part." |
| The trust said letters were not posted to Mr Dawe but were sent electronically to his GP. | The trust said letters were not posted to Mr Dawe but were sent electronically to his GP. |
| His GP surgery, Stanley Medical Group, confirmed it had received the letters, adding: "Letters are scanned and recorded on the patient record on receipt, however we would not apply a diagnosis code until this is definite." | His GP surgery, Stanley Medical Group, confirmed it had received the letters, adding: "Letters are scanned and recorded on the patient record on receipt, however we would not apply a diagnosis code until this is definite." |
| The surgery apologised for Mr Dawe having to deal "with a confusing situation". | The surgery apologised for Mr Dawe having to deal "with a confusing situation". |
| "This caused myself and my family stress, it affected my home life, my work and my mental health. We did not know if I had cancer," Mr Dawe said. | "This caused myself and my family stress, it affected my home life, my work and my mental health. We did not know if I had cancer," Mr Dawe said. |
| He is now being tested for cirrhosis of the liver and pulmonary fibrosis. | He is now being tested for cirrhosis of the liver and pulmonary fibrosis. |
| NHS England said: "It is vital that local organisations, who are responsible for managing their records systems, provide patients and staff with timely and high-quality communication." | NHS England said: "It is vital that local organisations, who are responsible for managing their records systems, provide patients and staff with timely and high-quality communication." |