Patient harm and racism exposed

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SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE: £1 FOR 3 MONTHS January 26, 2023 View in browser Morning all,   It has been a week of big headlines from The Independent's health pages.    From racism facing NHS staff to warnings over David Carrick-style failings, there's a lot to discuss. 'Pandemic' levels of racism It is no secret that the NHS, as with most of our great institutions, has a problem with systemic racism. This week a joint exclusive between myself and race correspondent Nadine White revealed how little progress has been made by NHS hospitals on key actions to tackle racism.   Sources told The Independent that the latest NHS staff survey data will show one-third of black and minority ethnic staff reported experiencing discrimination and bullying last year and that the most commonly reported form was racism. The perhaps more shocking thing is this stat has not improved since 2016 when NHS England first launched its major workforce race equality standards.   Despite being one-quarter of the workforce, minority ethnic staff make up just 10 per cent of the most senior positions, according to the NHS staff survey yet to be published.   The figures are set to be published in the NHS's flagship annual report on race.   Equality for Black Nurses, a membership organisation founded by Neomi Bennett in 2020, has launched 200 cases of alleged racism against a number of NHS trusts since it was set up.   "Racism is driving nurses out of the NHS," Ms Bennett, told The Independent, warning that this issue had reached "pandemic levels".   Have you been impacted by racism within the NHS? Email Rebecca.Thomas@independent.co.uk   Harm escalates   Health Check's most frequent topic of the last year has likely been harm to patients caused by the worsening emergency care situation.   Last week an analysis by The Independent revealed record levels of patient harm were likely caused by ambulance handover delays.   Almost 6,000 suffered permanent or long-term harm due to long waits to hand over patients outside A&Es – up from just over 4,000 in November.   A further 14,000 patients were likely to have suffered "moderate harm", an analysis by The Independent of NHS ambulance data and estimates of harm by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) found.    In the same week senior cardiologists warned heart attack care had "gone back in time" leaving patients dying due to delays. Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our welcome offer when you join today.  Regulators under the spotlight   Following the horrific stories of exposing serial rapist police officer David Carrick last week it is important all sectors reflect on their own actions and ask – could it happen here?   Over the weekend NHS staff told The Independent healthcare in the UK was at risk of missing its own Carrick as regulators, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and General Medical Council have allegedly failed to properly address allegations of domestic violence and assault.     Some shocking cases surfaced in which male nurses were convicted of serious assault on partners, or sexual assault were allowed to continue working in their clinical roles.   Dr Rebecca Cox, who helped sparked the major #MeToo movement in medicine and is co-founder of the Surviving in Scrubs campaign group, told The Independent: "There are great similarities, in the recent cases of prolific sexual harassment and assault, between the Met Police and the NHS.   "As an organisation, we have had multiple healthcare professionals contacting us desperate to seek support after facing repeated barriers when trying to report harassment and assault to their employing NHS organisation and regulators such as the GMC.   "Victims find their cases ignored or dropped without good reason, and perpetrators being able to continue working without repercussions. We need a public inquiry into sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assault in healthcare."   Giveth and taketh away   Over the last two months The Independent has carried out multiple exposes into private mental health provider the Huntercombe Group. The investigations revealed shocking allegations from more than 50 patients over systematic abuse. This followed other major mental health scandals in 2022.   This week the Department of Health and Social Care discreetly announced it has commissioned a rapid review of inpatient mental health services, chaired by Geraldine Strathdee, within a written question. The announcement was so discreet it was almost missed – but not by the Indy.   I've since established the review will be data-based looking at how information already obtained by the Care Quality Commission and NHSE. This will be likely disappointing to patients and families expecting more.   The terms of reference are yet to be set, however early indications suggest the rapid review may miss the big questions over poor culture and staffing levels.   In the same week as this rapid review was announced the DHSC also quietly dropped a previously promised 10-year strategy for mental health. Instead, mental health will be rolled into a "major conditions" plan – quite the example of giving with one hand and taking with the other. What we're investigating... Here are just a handful of topics we're keen to take a closer look at, with your help: I'm keen to find new patient safety stories to follow. Please tell me the safety issues I should be tackling in the new year. Have you or a family member struggled to access eating disorder services? email rebecca.thomas@independent.co.uk Last year we highlighted failings at private mental health hospital the Huntercombe Group. Are there other units we should be looking at? email rebecca.thomas@independent.co.uk What you might have missed this week...  NHS safety watchdog sends warning over charging for GP appointments A&Es 'haemorrhaging' nurses as strikes to hit services hard, health chiefs warn Excess deaths hit two year high in England and Wales We noticed that you might not be registered By registering, you will enjoy limited access to Independent Premium articles, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists REGISTER FOR FREE Articles available exclusively to subscribers Suicidal children are being sent home because hospitals are busy – but there is another way, writes  Chris Hampson OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE Climate News Every Friday, 12pm (UK time) Written by Louise Boyle Join now Simon Calder's Travel Week Every Friday, 7am (UK time) Written by Simon Calder Join now If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. 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