Table 2 Type of safety problem ranked by mean score on a visual analogue scale
N | Safety problem descriptor | Mean score/10 |
|---|---|---|
1 | Routine difficulties with access to medical records in post discharge clinics leads to decisions being made without adequate background information | 6.9 |
2 | For a variety of reasons, information about discharged patients sometimes does not reach relevant primary care staff | 6.8 |
3 | Patients are at risk when medication changes during admission are not communicated to primary care | 6.0 |
4 | The service is vulnerable during periods of staff sickness, which may also affect staff morale | 5.5 |
5 | Difficulty in communicating with the bed bureau can put patients at risk | 5.4 |
6 | The provision of a differential service across the two hospitals may lead to a variation in the quality of the care provided | 5.2 |
7 | Some primary care staff appear to be unsure of the aim of the supported discharge programme, and of the care provided | 5.0 |
8 | Patients are at risk when patients do not bring their home care treatment/record with them on re-admission | 5.0 |
9 | Making and keeping hospital appointments can be a problem | 4.9 |
10 | Lack of clarity on the part of non-COPD Hospital Staff about the re-admission process leads to quality variation and admission delays, misdirection of patients and inefficiencies | 4.6 |
11 | Technical difficulties with telephone communications between staff and between staff and patients is a possible safety risk | 4.5 |
12 | Quality variation and inefficiencies occur because the COPD Supported Discharge Programme does not have a high priority, compared with other hospital services | 3.8 |