David Oliver: Could we do better on hospital acquired covid-19 in a future wave?
David Oliver
Abstract
Hospitals are currently in the eye of a covid-19 storm, driven by a rapid rise in community infection rates and more new emergency cases presenting daily. But before the current surge there were concerns about covid infection acquired or identified during a hospital stay. In October the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) issued a report on the factors behind hospital acquired covid-19 infections in England last spring.1 We now have better access to testing and personal protective equipment (PPE). We have better knowledge from research and guidelines. But the rates of covid infection officially classified as “hospital acquired” have yet to fall. NHS hospitals are fielding formal complaints from people angry and distressed that they, or a family member, may have contracted infection in what they expect to be a place of safety. Teams battling to deliver clinical care in a highly pressurised environment and at some personal risk will be sent down a distracting, demoralising warren of complaint handling and root cause …