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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NHS patient safety 'must improve' | NHS patient safety 'must improve' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| More needs to be done to improve standards of safety in the NHS and independent sector, a watchdog says. | More needs to be done to improve standards of safety in the NHS and independent sector, a watchdog says. |
| The Healthcare Commission said that while most patients received safe care, standards were inconsistent in England and Wales. | |
| The watchdog said there was no clear indication on the number of deaths that could be avoided. | The watchdog said there was no clear indication on the number of deaths that could be avoided. |
| It also raised concerns about a range of other areas, including mental health care and health inequalities. | |
| The annual State of Healthcare report draws on data from surveys, focus groups and inspections. | |
| It's frustrating that in 2006 we do not have a clearer idea of how many people die or are harmed when this could have been avoided Sir Ian Kennedy, of the Healthcare Commission | |
| The report said patient satisfaction levels remained high, and waiting lists had fallen in the last five years. | The report said patient satisfaction levels remained high, and waiting lists had fallen in the last five years. |
| But it said attention had to be focussed on four areas - safety, designing services around patients, reducing inequalities in health and tackling services for people with mental health problems, learning disabilities, older people and children. | |
| Healthcare Commission chairman Sir Ian Kennedy said: "There are real improvements to applaud and celebrate. These are having a genuine impact on people's lives with many waiting less time for care and experiencing better treatment." | |
| But he added: "It's frustrating that in 2006 we do not have a clearer idea of how many people die or are harmed when this could have been avoided." | |
| Safety | |
| To illustrate his point, he said the National Audit Office could only estimate the number of deaths as a result of patient safety incidents ranged from 840 to 34,000. | |
| The report revealed in the NHS, one in 10 trusts could not confirm that they fully met core standards on safety. | |
| In the independent sector, one in 10 providers were ordered to improve the management of risks last year. | In the independent sector, one in 10 providers were ordered to improve the management of risks last year. |
| And the Healthcare Commission said 22% of the complaints it handles relate to safety. | |
| Safety includes areas such as infection control and drug administration. | Safety includes areas such as infection control and drug administration. |
| The report also marks the first publication of an overview of standards in the independent sector in England, which includes both private and voluntary providers. | |
| Some 50% of providers met all 32 minimum standards, but one in 10 failed five or more - broadly in line with NHS organisations. | |
| Jo Webber, deputy director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said some things were improving with many trusts now actively encouraging their staff to report incidents. | |
| "Communication to staff and patients is key here, but can often be a challenge in large and complex organisations." |