Solicitor backs call for action on safety

AN Oldham solicitor has added his voice to a call from a national charity for swifter action to prevent potentially fatal errors in the NHS.

Alarming figures obtained by the charity Action Against Medical Accidents through Freedom of Information revealed three out of four NHS trusts had not complied with at least one patient-safety alert despite the deadline passing.

A claim by its chief executive, Peter Walsh, that “lives are being put at risk” was echoed by John Pollitt, from Pearson Hinchliffe solicitors in Queen Street.

He said: “Any system for alerting risk areas is valueless unless there are sufficient levels of compliance.

“There is just no excuse for failing to heed a warning which could save lives. For families who have lost loved ones this news will be hard to bear.”

The figures show Pennine Acute Trust, which treats more than a million patients a year in its five hospitals, including the Royal Oldham, had 11 incidents of non-compliance before the deadline, and NHS Oldham, the primary care trust, had five.

Alerts are issued nationally for potential risk areas, and all NHS trusts across the country have to comply with recommendations then report it has been done.

Dr Ruth Jameson, medical director at Pennine Acute Trust, said it had robust systems to report and record alerts, and for subsequent action. She said: “We take all aspects of patient care very seriously and patient safety, in particular, is our top priority.”

Patient safety alerts are scrutinised by a committee of senior managers and consultant clinicians, and staff are involved at times when policies are reviewed, or for training.

Dr Jameson added that work following some of the alerts had been completed and closed since the figures — which are for 2004-2009 —were collected, and the trust is currently working on eight alerts.

“Only when we have fully investigated and completed any necessary action will we close the alert,” she said.

Shauna Dixon, director of clinical leadership for NHS Oldham, said it, too, took patient and staff safety very seriously, and had robust systems in place to manage alerts.

She said: “Where there are alerts which are listed as outstanding, we can confirm that all actions have been taken by the required deadlines. However, some require extensive ongoing training programmes.”

The Department of Health has now said it will issue all NHS organisations with a formal reminder of their obligations.