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Patient Safety, October 2010 - March 2011

Statistics on patient safety incidents produced by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) were released on 13 September 2011. This headline was delayed during further investigation of incidents by Aneurin Bevan Health Board, which reported a large number of deaths. The investigation by Aneurin Bevan Health Board found that in 23 of the incidents reported as resulting in the death of a patient, the patient death was not the result of a patient safety incident.

Incidents are recorded on the NPSA’s National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS).  The NRLS captures incident reports from NHS organisations across England and Wales.

A breakdown of figures for each organisation is available on the NPSA website.

Reporting is based on incidents which occurred in the six month period 1 October 2010 to 31 March 2011 (and which were reported to the NPSA by 31 May 2011). In Wales there were 26,749 incidents, which is a nine per cent decrease on the previous reporting period (1 April 2010 to 30 September 2010).

Reports indicate whether incidents led to any harm to the patients. The NPSA states that of the 26,749 incidents reported in Wales,

  • 18,634 (70 per cent) resulted in no harm to the patient;
  • 5,706 (21 per cent) resulted in low harm;
  • 2,263 (eight per cent) resulted in moderate harm;
  • 146 (0.6 percent) resulted in death or severe harm – however 23 deaths included in this figure did not result from a patient safety incident  (see above)

The reports are accompanied by Data Handling notes which include important information on interpretation of the data.

Further information

National Patient Survey Agency website: Organisation patient safety incident records

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 5080
E-mail: stats.healthinfo@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

March 2012 (provisional - to be confirmed on Due Out Soon page)