08.05.13
Patient safety ‘thermometer’ shows improvements
More patients are receiving harm-free care on the NHS, the first findings from the NHS Safety Thermometer suggest.
Published today by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), the tool was established in April 2012 and aims to support patient safety improvement.
The thermometer records and measures four types of harm: pressure ulcers, falls, urinary tract infections and new venous thromboemolisms.
Results show that 92.1% patients received harm-free care over the past year, compared to 89.7% in 2012. Of those assessed, 5.6% developed pressure ulcers, 1% suffered a fall, 1% developed a catheter or urinary tract infection, and 0.6% a new venous thromboemolisms.
HSCIC chief executive Alan Perkins said: “The NHS Safety Thermometer is ground-breaking in that it looks at patient care across a broad range of settings – from residential homes to hospital wards. Today’s report reflects the first year’s findings of this innovative tool, and it is promising to see that participation has doubled since the tool was launched.
“I would actively encourage care providers to participate. Such high-quality information is vital in giving providers an accurate local picture to help deliver better care, better services and better outcomes for patients.”
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