New Study Highlights Urgent Need to Improve GI Bleed Service Coverage
Friday, 03 July 2015 11:33
The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) has welcomed the publication of a landmark report into gastrointestinal (GI) bleed services, and repeated its calls for urgent action to improve service provision and protect safety for all patients in the UK.
Half of hospitals that patients are admitted to as an emergency cannot provide all the services they might need for a GI bleed, according to the study by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD). In addition, NCEPOD found that 32% of hospitals in their sample admitting GI bleed patients did not have a 24/7 endoscopy service, and issued a clear call for this to change.
The BSG has been working with its members and relevant agencies for several years to improve the provision of acute upper GI bleed (AUGIB) services, including through:
- A series of clinical audits on GI Bleeds nationally, including the audit conducted with the National Blood Service reported in 2010
- Working with NHS Improving Quality (NHS IQ) to audit services across England, documented in the launch of a report in 2014 which included models for service improvement
- Developing an Upper GI Toolkit with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
- Contributing to the development of NICE guidance
- Holding workshops with NHS IQ for BSG members on how services could be improved
- Held a number of events at its annual conferences to highlight the issue
In addition to this, work is ongoing with NHS England to re-audit services to see where improvements have been made over the past two years. The BSG membership is united in its determination to see service change to make sure that patients with a GI bleed have access to the specialist services they need in an appropriate and timely manner.
Commenting, British Society of Gastroenterology President, Dr Ian Forgacs, said:
"This report is another important reminder of the urgent need to ensure that patients everywhere have access to GI bleed services available 24/7 either onsite or through a comprehensive network.
"Working with members to improve these services has been a key priority both for myself and the BSG for many years now, and this report is a reminder that there is still some way to go to deliver the services patients need and deserve.
"With the current political focus on delivering seven day services, particularly in areas where there is a high risk of mortality without appropriate treatment, there is a strong case for improving GI bleed services to be a key part of that agenda and we hope this report will help to build momentum and will for change around this issue.
"Until we see wholesale change to safe, comprehensive and high quality service coverage, the improvement of GI bleed services will remain a top priority for the BSG and its members."