Patient safety updates - 10 January 2013

New policy, guidance and initiatives from across the UK relevant to patient safety. For more information about the patient safety theme see Quality and Safety e-Bulletin: patient safety.

Some of the resources linked to are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.

DH: ‘Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.’ campaign to help reduce flu infections. A campaign has launched to encourage the public to adopt good respiratory and hand hygiene practices – to ‘Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.’ – to help stem flu infections.

DH: Communications strategy agreed for potential flu pandemic. The Department of Health is publishing a communications strategy to assist in planning its response to a potential flu pandemic. This is a companion document to the UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy, published in November, and the Health and Social Care Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Guidance for the health and social care community, published in April, and should be read alongside these.

DH: PiP one year on: thousands of women have turned to NHS for help. One year on since serious problems with PiP breast implants emerged, almost 8,000 women, who had their implants put in privately, have turned to the NHS for help.

DH: New child abuse alert system for hospitals announced. Hospitals will have a new Child Protection – Information System to help doctors and nurses spot children suffering from abuse and neglect, Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter has announced. Work on the system will begin in early 2013 and it will start to be introduced to NHS hospitals in 2015.

Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS): Updated leaflet aimed at reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The updated leaflet informs and reminds parents and carers of the importance of following a few simple measures to reduce the risk of cot death.

DHSSPS: Health Minister warns of increase in sexually transmitted infections. The Health Survey for Northern Ireland 2011/12 showed that during. During 2011 there were 7,661 new sexually transmitted infections diagnosed in Genito-Urinary Medicine clinics in Northern Ireland and the survey has highlighted that almost a third (32 per cent) of respondents said that drinking alcohol has contributed to them having sex without using condoms.

DHSSPS: Northern Ireland fireworks injuries 2012. This statistical release presents information on the number of persons injured by fireworks and treated at emergency care departments in Northern Ireland during the 2012 Halloween period.
Key facts: Northern Ireland Fireworks Injuries Statistics 2012.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Surveillance of invasive pneumococcal disease in Europe, 2010. In 2010, a new enhanced surveillance system for invasive pneumococcal disease was established in the European Union, coordinated by ECDC, and this report describes the results of the first year of data collection (2010 data).

Extending the Cure: Extending the Cure is a ‘research and consultative effort’ examining the challenge of antibiotic resistance. It is housed in the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, a non-profit and non-partisan American organisation that conducts independent research, and funded in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Following on from Antibiotic Awareness Week, Extending the Cure has released an updated and re-designed ResistanceMap, an online platform for tracking antibiotic use and resistance in the USA.

Health Protection Agency (HPA): Migrant health training event videos. This section of the HPA Migrant Health Guide contains links to videos from a training event held for primary care practitioners held in London on 12 November 2012 which look at specific diseases as well as general aspects of health care.

HPA: New strain of norovirus. As part of its surveillance for norovirus the Health Protection Agency (HPA) carries out genetic testing of norovirus strains from cases in England and Wales. The latest testing of the most recent outbreaks, completed this week, has now shown that Sydney 2012 has overtaken all others to become the dominant strain. This new strain does not cause more serious illness than others and the methods of managing cases and outbreaks are the same for any strain of norovirus.
HPA: Update on seasonal norovirus activity: 8 January 2013.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland: The management of adverse events: a consultation. This paper poses a number of questions to support successful development and implementation of a national approach to reporting, management and learning from adverse events. The paper aims to facilitate early engagement and discussion on the priorities for the future national approach and does not represent a final model. The consultation closes on 1 March 2013.

Scottish Government: National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland: Guidance for Health Professionals in Scotland. This guidance is intended to act as a practical reference point for all healthcare staff working within an adult and child service context. It highlights the specific roles and responsibilities of specialist staff working in particular settings wherever children and young people will usually be seen. It sets out the framework to aid practitioners in their role in dealing with child protection concerns.