SUIs need further investigation, says BMA

  The number of SUIs (serious untoward incidents) in Welsh hospitals has increased by 128 per cent in the past three years, figures obtained by the Conservatives have revealed. In 2014/15, the number of incidents that resulted in severe harm or avoidable deaths to patients was 945. In 2011/12 the figure was 414. BMA Cymru Wales has questioned what the figures represent and has called for further investigation. The Conservatives have used the figures to repeat their call for a Keogh-style inquiry. Darren Millar conservative shadow health minister, said: ‘One avoidable death is one too many and the alarming rate at which these incidents are being reported to the health minister suggests that there are problems which need to be urgently addressed.’   'Attack on NHS' Welsh health minister Mark Drakeford has said the increase is down to a widening of the scope of what constitutes an SUI. He said: ‘This is yet another sloppy attempt to attack the Welsh NHS. ‘The number of incidents has increased because we have asked the Welsh NHS to report more things, such as infections and grade three and four pressure ulcers. ‘NHS staff are encouraged to report all incidents, including near-misses. A high reporting environment is indicative of an open safety culture.’ Phil Banfield (pictured), chair of the BMA Welsh council, said: ‘It’s difficult to know exactly what these figures represent, given the drive for openness and transparency ...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news