31-year-old woman died after NHS IT blunder left her without care

NHS IT failures have been linked to three deaths and more than 100 instances of serious harm at NHS hospital trusts in England.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request also revealed that 200,000 medical letters were unsent as a result of problems with NHS computer systems.

Over the past two years NHS England has invested £900m for new improved systems, but almost half of hospital trusts with electronic patient systems have reported problems. 

Coroners highlighted that these failings played a role the death of 31-year-old Emily Harkleroad.

The dietitian and swimming enthusiast collapsed in December 2022 and was taken to A&E at University Hospital of North Durham where she was diagnosed with a blood clot on her lung, known as a pulmonary embolism. 

Coroners highlighted that these failings played a role the death of 31-year-old Emily Harkleroad

There were delays in giving her blood-thinning treatment that she urgently needed and a new computer system only installed months earlier failed to identify which patients were critically ill and needed to be prioritised, an inquest heard. 

Ms Harkleroad died the following morning. The coroner called on the hospital trust and software supplier Cerner, now owned by Oracle, to take action to prevent future deaths, according to BBC News.

Oracle told BBC News: ‘While there is no suggestion that software was at fault in this case, we continue to work closely with our NHS partners to implement successful programmes that help them deliver the safest and most effective care for the 16 million citizens our systems support in the UK.’ 

Making the shift to paperless and introducing computerised records is a government priority. It’s hoped this will make everyone’s health information easily accessible to GPs. hospitals and care homes. 

However, it hasn’t been straightforward with the deadline set by the Department of Health and Social Care now at 2026. 

Although millions has been spent on electronic patient records, many are experiencing major technical problems.  

Over the past two years NHS England has invested £900m for new improved systems (file image)

The FOI sent to all acute hospital trusts in England, of which 116 responded found these incidents that put patents at risk were not isolated. 

In fact, 89 trusts said they had instances when patients could be harmed as a result of problems with their Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems. 

There was also 126 instances of serious harm linked to IT issues, across 31 trusts and three deaths across two trusts all related to EPR problems.    

Another death that coroners said could have been prevented was 22-year-old Darnell Smith who had sickle cell disease, cerebral palsy and softwarecosmos was non-verbal.

Mr Smith was admitted to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, in November 2022 with a cough, cold-like symptoms and a reduced appetite, the BBC reported.

22-year-old Darnell Smith , pictured with his father Erroll, had sickle cell disease, cerebral palsy and was non-verbal was another death that could have been prevented, coroners say

A coroner concluded that staff were not aware of his particular needs and it was not visible in the hospital computerised records

Mr Smith was admitted to critical care several hours after his care plan came to light. he was then put on a ventilator the next morning and died from pneumonia two weeks later. 

A coroner concluded that staff were not aware of his particular needs and it was not visible in the hospital computerised records.  

‘For me, the IT system should be set up in a way where you have to see it… you know – it just doesn’t allow you to move any further until you’ve read what you’re supposed to read,’ his father Erroll told BBC News.   

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust has apologised for the care Mr Smith received and say a new IT system is being introduced this year. 

Professor Erika Denton, National Medical Director for Transformation at NHS England, said: ‘Electronic patient record systems have been shown to improve safety and care for patients, including helping clinicians detect those at risk from conditions such as sepsis and preventing medication errors.

‘The NHS has invested nearly £900 million over the past two years to help local organisations introduce new and improved systems, so they are no longer relying on paper records or patchwork systems – which carry far greater risks to safety, care delays, and patient privacy.

‘However, like any system it’s essential that they are introduced and operated to high standards, and NHS England is working closely with trusts to review any concerns raised and provide additional support and guidance on the safe use of their systems where required.’

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