The charity, AvMA has published results of its research into NHS
bodies' failure to implement patient safety alerts issued by the
National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA).
The report "Adding Insult to Injury - NHS failure to implement
patient safety alerts" is based on a Freedom of Information request
the charity made to the Department of Health, which manages the
Central Alert System (CAS).
When the NPSA issues an alert (which is only done after thorough
research and consultation that the issues are serious and the
recommended actions urgent in the interest of safety), NHS bodies
have to report to the CAS when the recommended actions have been
completed.
Compliance with implementing the alerts within a given deadline
is one of the top "core standards" which all NHS trusts in England
are supposed to meet. The research revealed that there is no system
in place for monitoring compliance.
AvMA point out that failure to implement the alerts or to
intervene where necessary is putting lives at risk, and adding
insult to injury for injured patients and those who have lost loved
ones due to lapses in patient safety.
Chief executive Peter Walsh said: "It is this kind of
complacency that could allow another Stafford to happen".