NPSA stats reveal patient safety improving

23 September 2010

MORE trusts in England are reporting patient safety incidents, but fewer patients are being harmed, according to a new report.

The latest figures from the National Patient Safety Agency show the number of incidents of patients being severely harmed or killed dropped to 3509 in the six months to March 31, 2010 compared to 3572 in the previous six month period (ending September 2009).

This is despite a four per cent rise in incidents being reported. The total number reported to the NPSA in the latest period was 569,165 – an increase of 22,577 compared to the previous period.

The NPSA said the number of trusts that have reported incidents increased from 99 per cent to 99.7 per cent. The most common mistakes reported related to patient accident (30 per cent), medication (11 per cent), and treatment and procedure (10 per cent).

Findings also show that more trusts are reporting no or low harm patient safety incidents. The number of these types of incidents increased from 473,162 to 494,540 over the two periods.

Director of Patient Safety Dr Suzette Woodward said: “Trusts across England are reporting more patient safety incidents to us, giving the service an even greater opportunity to learn and to ensure the risk of repeated episodes are minimised as much as possible.”