THE number of 'patient safety incidents' at University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) hospitals and health centres has almost doubled in the past year.

However, the Trust said the figures showed its policy of encouraging all staff to report such incidents was working and added that it was confident its safety standards had been maintained.

According to statistics released by NHS England, there were 3,183 patient safety incidents which caused harm between October 2018 and March 2019 at UHMBT hospitals and health centres.

In contrast, there were 1,607 such incidents in the previous surveryed period covering October 2017 to March 2018, an increase of 98 per cent.

A patient safety incident is defined as “any unintended or unexpected incident that could have or did lead to harm for one or more patients receiving NHS-funded healthcare,” and all NHS Trusts are obliged to report any occurrence.

Across all NHS trusts in England, a total of 266,342 such incidents were recorded as causing harm, an increase of 32,620.

However, UHMBT director of governance Andrea Willimott said the figures showed signs of a "healthy reporting culture."

“We welcome the new figures which show that the reporting of incidents is growing year on year," she said.

"We encourage all staff to report any incidents and near misses, so that we can learn from them and ensure we provide safe care for our patients.

“We’re pleased that reporting has increased - it’s the sign of a healthy reporting culture and one where patient safety can flourish. All incidents causing any harm, or potentially causing harm are reviewed at the Trust’s weekly patient safety summit which is chaired by the Trust’s medical director or executive chief nurse or deputy.

“We are also pleased to see that our other indicators do not suggest that our service is in any way less safe than it was the previous year.”