Some hospitals faced difficulty delivering oxygen to patients during the Covid-19 pandemic (Peter Byrne/PA)
At least 12 hospitals had concerns over delivering oxygen to patients during the Covid-19 pandemic, a safety watchdog has warned.
A new report, published by the Healthcare Safety Investigation branch (HSIB) on Thursday, stated that “excessive” demands on oxygen delivery systems in hospitals during the second wave of the pandemic led to a “major disruption”, forcing patients to be diverted to other hospitals and elective surgery being cancelled during the autumn of 2020.
It added that the issues were with the ability of the medical gas pipeline systems (MGPS) delivering the amount of oxygen patients needed, rather than access to the supply of oxygen.
A nurse checking on a patient suffering with Covid-19 on the critical care unit (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
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Concerns over oxygen delivery to patients being treated during the pandemic were raised by 12 hospitals, it s been revealed.
A new report, published by a safety watchdog on Thursday (June 24), stated that “excessive” demands on oxygen delivery systems in hospitals during the second wave of the pandemic led to a “major disruption”, forcing patients to be diverted to other hospitals and elective surgery being cancelled during the autumn of 2020.
Hospitals have been urged to check if there are any “limitations” in their oxygen delivery systems by a safety watchdog.
Problems with oxygen in hospitals could lead to medics being forced to choose which patients should be prioritised to receive care or lowering the amount of oxygen that patients receive, the Healthcare Safety Investigation branch (HSIB) warned.
The warnings form part of an interim HSIB report on oxygen issued during the pandemic.
Investigators launched a probe after a London hospital trust declared a major incident after identifying problems with its oxygen supply.
Problems arose when two patients on a high dependency unit (HDU) were found to have lower than expected blood oxygen levels.
Dr. Mike Durkin Assumes Role as Vice Chairman of Patient Safety Movement Foundation Board of Directors
The Patient Safety Movement Foundation (PSMF), a global non-profit on a mission to achieve zero preventable patient deaths by 2030, has appointed Mike Durkin, OBE, MBBS, FRCA, FRCP, DSc to serve as vice chairman of the board of directors. Dr. Durkin will work alongside Chairman Michael A.E. Ramsay, MD, FRCA to provide guidance and strategic support of the organization’s goal to create safer and more reliable healthcare systems.
“Dr. Durkin has been an invaluable member of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation board since he joined in 2018, and we are pleased he has accepted this leadership role,” said Dr. Ramsay. “His experience leading the National Patient Safety Improvement Programme for the National Health Service (NHS) England and work with the World Health Organization’s international development of patient safety systems make him an ideal fit to help lead our orga