Search results
Your search has returned 190 resultsA Patient Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland
Ombudsman Margaret Kelly has called for patients to be given a central role in shaping safety protocols within Northern Ireland's health service.
Speaking yesterday (20 March) at a conference on patient safety, Ms Kelly asked the Department of Health to take the lead in creating a comprehensive framework that empowers patients and fosters a culture of safety and accountability.
With a keynote address from Sir Robert Francis KC (Chair of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust inquiries, 2010 and 2013), the conference brought together a range of voices and expertise to explore potential strategies and approaches to improving patient safety and public trust in our health and social care system.
Ms Kelly stated:
‘Complaints, patient feedback, and raising concerns have proven to be a reliable indicator of safety issues. Patients must be central to any solutions to improve patient safety. Our investigation work highlights a culture that is sometimes defensive rather than open with patients, and which does not always use complaints as an opportunity to learn and prevent future harm. We hope this conference will mark a step towards ensuring that patient perspectives are not only heard but actively incorporated into the fabric of healthcare policies and practices.
A Patient Safety Strategy setting out how our health system is prioritising safety and involving patients in the process would provide reassurance and help build public trust in a health system that is committed to being patient centred.’
A report from the conference will be published in the near future.
Good records management
Public bodies should be transparent. They should record the criteria for decision making and give reasons for their decisions.
This was the message given by Ombudsman Margaret Kelly and Deputy Ombudsman Sean Martin at a recent talk given to an event held in the Public Records Office Northern Ireland.
While people don't generally complain about poor record keeping, explained Ms Kelly, a significant proportion of those cases going to the Ombudsman's Further Investigation stage uncover issues with record keeping. This often can be an indicator of other underlying problems.
Stressing how good records protect everyone, both urged members of staff working in public bodies to record their rationale when making key decisions. This not only helps others within the public body but can act as a 'shield' if those decisions are questioned at some point in the future.
Quarterly Bulletin - March 2024
Our Quarterly Bulletin highlights some of our most recent investigation reports and provides other updates on our work.
Easter Holidays
Please note, our Office is closed to the public on Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Easter Tuesday.
Our phone lines are open on Good Friday, but will be closed on Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday.
Our online Complaints Form is available throughout the Easter break.
Failings by Trust caused patient's family upset and frustration
A woman complained about the treatment her father received in Altnagelvin Hospital, including that he should not have had a catheter inserted while he was dying. We upheld parts of the complaint.
Complaint about council’s handling of a planning application
We asked Mid and East Antrim Council to apologise to a man for failures in the way it dealt with a planning application.
Eye examination by nurse was appropriate
A patient in a medical practice complained that her eye infection should have been examined by a GP rather than a nurse. We found that the examination was appropriate, but that a GP should have seen the patient following her request.
GP Practice gave cancer patient the right level of pain relief
We investigated whether an increase in a man’s prescription caused him to attend hospital the following day.
We found the Practice’s increase in the dose fell within the prescribed limits.