New NPSA signal item on treating spinal cord compression

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has issued a new Signal on spinal cord compression.

The Signal was released by the Patient Safety division of the NPSA to highlight the harm associated with failing to quickly diagnose and treat spinal cord compression. It was released in response to incidents where affected patients, or those suspected of being at risk, were managed poorly by the healthcare team.

The NPSA report that 334 incident reports have been identified in the National Reporting and Learning System; 33 of which resulted in severe harm and two resulted in death. A delay in diagnosis or treatment was identified in 193 of these cases and poor handling was cited as a risk factor in 30. 

The NPSA is now calling for organisations to contact them with their own ideas for improving staff training and management of patients who develop spinal cord compression.