BBC investigation links NHS failures to patient harm

by Owen Hughes

Responses to a freedom of information (FOI) request sent by BBC News to acute trusts in England found 126 instances of serious harm linked to IT issues across 31 trusts, including three patient deaths. 

Of the 116 trusts that responded to the FOI request, 89 reported instances of problems with their electronic patient record (EPR) systems that put patients at risk of harm, while nearly 60 trusts reported IT issues that could impact patient care, BBC News reported on 30 May 2024.

Three deaths across two acute hospital trusts happened as a result of EPR problems, BBC News said.

The FOI request also revealed that almost half of trusts recorded instances of potential patient harm linked to their IT systems and more than 200,000 medical letters from 21 trusts were not sent as a result of problems with IT systems.

Responding to the report, Professor Erika Denton, national medical director for transformation at NHS England, told the BBC that NHSE has invested almost £900 million in “new and improved” IT systems over the past two years as part of long-standing efforts to replace paper records.

“However, like any system, it’s essential that they are introduced and operated to high standards, and NHS England is working closely with trusts to review any concerns raised and provide additional support and guidance on the safe use of their systems when required,” Professor Denton said.

BBC News reported in February 2024 that an inquest concluded that the death of Emily Kate Harkleroad on 19 December 2022 could have been prevented.

The inquest found that a newly-implemented Cerner IT system at University Hospital of North Durham did not identify Harkleroad as critically ill, contributing to a delay in her receiving blood-thinning treatment needed for a blood clot on her lung.

A report to prevent future deaths was issued by Rebecca Sutton the assistant coroner for County Durham and Darlington on 5 February 2024 to the executive medical director of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and Oracle Health UK, following the death.

Through its FOI requestS, BBC News said it found that more than 2,000 potential patient harm incidents and three serious cases at County Durham and Darlington NHS FT have been linked to the IT system.

Oracle, which purchased Cerner in December 2021, told BBC News in a statement: “While there is no suggestion that software was at fault in this case, we continue to work closely with our NHS partners to implement successful programmes that help them deliver the safest and most effective care for the 16 million citizens our systems support in the UK.”

County Durham and Darlington NHS FT told BBC News it was taking the coroners’ report “extremely seriously”.