Maternal and neonatal health safety collaborative – NHS Improvement
Updated: Update to support offer section to include driver diagrams and change package resources. A three-year programme to support improvement in the quality and safety of maternity and neonatal units across England.

Risk of harm from inappropriate placement of pulse oximeter probes – NHSI

This alert asks providers to ensure staff have access to appropriate equipment and the information they need to use these devices safely.

A warning alert has been issued on the risk of harm from inappropriate placement of pulse oximeter probes. Measurement of oxygen saturation, using a pulse oximeter probe, is routinely undertaken as part of patients’ vital signs during diagnosis and ongoing monitoring.  Oximeter probes can be single or multiple use and are designed to attach to specific parts of the body. Adult oximeter probes can be attached to either a finger or an ear, but are not interchangeable between these sites, whilst probes for babies and children need to be selected according to the patient’s weight. If an oximeter probe intended for the finger is attached to the ear (or vice versa), or a probe intended for an adult is attached to a baby or a child (or vice versa), it can produce a reading up to 50% lower or 30% higher than the real value.

Driving forward system working
NHS Providers and NHS Clinical Commissioners have published Driving forward system working: a snapshot of early progress in collaborative commissioning.  This report explores emerging practice in systems that are rethinking the way in which they plan and design services at a local level to support the delivery of joined-up and sustainable care. It revisits views from leaders in CCGs, providers, national bodies and think tanks about the concept of strategic commissioning.  It also explores views about the likelihood that providers will take on more of the activities that NHS England (as a direct commissioner) or CCGs currently undertake.

Continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care
The Department of Health and Social Care has updated documents relating to the National framework for NHS continuing health and NHS-funded nursing care.  It has also published two new documents:

• Public guidance: NHS continuing healthcare and NHS-funded nursing care
• Delayed Discharges (Continuing Care) (Amendment) Directions 2018.

Independent Breast Screening Review
The Department of Health and Social Care has published The Independent Breast Screening Review 2018.  This report sets out the findings and recommendations of the Independent Breast Screening Review, established to look into the failings in the breast screening programme in England.  The review makes 15 recommendations for the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England and NHS England.

National Bowel Cancer Audit
The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership has published National Bowel Cancer Audit: annual report 2018.  This ninth annual report from the National Bowel Cancer Audit examines data on over 30,000 patients diagnosed with bowel cancer between 01 April 2016 and 31 March 2017.  It describes some ongoing improvements such as mortality rates following both elective and emergency surgery falling over the past five years and increased numbers of operations being performed laparoscopically.

NIHR Signals

• New airway device as good as tracheal tube insertion for out-of-hospital resuscitation
• New insights into living with inflammatory bowel disease
• The benefits and harms of aspirin for people with type 2 diabetes are finely balanced
• Fish oil supplements do not reduce cardiovascular deaths in people with diabetes without existing vascular disease
• Stool test is useful before GPs refer for possible inflammatory bowel disease

Statistics

• Quarterly mortality report, England – July to September 2018
• Patient Safety Alert compliance data – December 2018
• Cover of vaccination evaluation rapidly programme 2018 to 2019 – July to September 2018.