Widespread Computer Issues Affect Patient Safety and Care
IT system failures at NHS hospital trusts in England have been linked to the deaths of three patients and over 100 instances of serious harm, according to a BBC News investigation. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that widespread NHS computer issues have resulted in 200,000 unsent medical letters.
Nearly half of the hospital trusts with electronic patient systems reported problems that could negatively impact patient care. Over the past two years, NHS England has invested £900 million to improve these systems, aiming to make health information readily accessible to GPs, hospitals, and care homes, thereby reducing medical mistakes.
However, many trusts face significant challenges with their new electronic patient record (EPR) systems. For instance, Darnell Smith, a 22-year-old patient with multiple health conditions, died from pneumonia after his care plan was not visible in the hospital’s computerised records. His father, Erroll Smith, emphasised the need for IT systems to ensure critical information is seen by staff. “For me, the IT system should be set up in a way where you have to see it… it just doesn’t allow you to move any further until you’ve read what you’re supposed to read,” he stated.
FOI findings include:
- 89 trusts monitor patient harm related to EPR issues.
- Nearly 60 trusts reported IT problems that could affect care.
- Over 200,000 letters went unsent across 21 trusts.
- 126 serious harm incidents and three deaths linked to IT issues were reported across 31 trusts.
The Royal College of GPs expressed shock at the findings, with Chairwoman Prof Kamila Hawthorne urging immediate action to address these issues.
Clinicians have raised concerns anonymously, citing difficulties in finding critical information, medication errors, and incorrect patient details resulting to medical misdiagnosis. Professor Joe McDonald, a former NHS clinical leader, compared the situation to the Horizon scandal at the Post Office, highlighting a culture of cover-up in the NHS’s health IT sector.
In summary, despite significant financial investment, NHS IT system failures continue to pose serious risks to patient safety. This underscores the urgent need for effective and interoperable electronic patient records to avoid further medical negligence.
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