Hospital staff reduce serious incidents through simulation course

A hospital team who reduced the number of serious incidents that happened in the Emergency Department by creating a simulation course has been named as a finalist in the 2014 NHS Innovation Awards. The team developed the course, which was implemented in January 2013, in order to address the problem of medical malpractice in the Emergency Department.

The simulation implemented an anonymised system for serious incidents in order to help hospital staff understand and investigate how human behaviour can be a contributory factor in errors of patient care. The Princess Alexandra Hospital staff was nominated in the Patient Safety category after the implementation of the course significantly reduced serious incidents.

All staff working in the Member Trusts in the Health Enterprise East region was eligible to enter the competition, which involved presenting ideas for services or products that would benefit patients and their care. The winners received a £2,000 stipend to be used for the further development of their product or service, as well as an engraved trophy and a certificate commemorating their win. The 2014 competition was made up of five categories, which included medical technology, patient dignity, software/ICT/assistive technology, long-term conditions management and patient safety.

A person who has suffered from medical negligence might be able to seek legal redress with the help of a personal injury lawyer. If the patient has been subject to misdiagnosis, wrong-site surgery, anesthesia error, hospital negligence or any other action that might have worsened a medical condition, he or she may also be entitled to compensation.

Source: Harlow Star, “Princess Alexandra Hospital staff celebrate success in innovation competition,” Bianca Castro, Oct. 11, 2014