Piper Alpha anniversary summit seeks action

acute illness. However, half of the patients felt their readmission was linked to a “perfect storm” of factors, including carers stress, psychological trauma after facing neardeathandpoorunderstanding of health and social care systems. Factors that were commonly mentioned by patients and carers were grouped into ten categories including poor communications between acute and community based care and inadequate psychological care.

One patient who took part in the study, said: “I’ve suffered with depression for 20 years on and off. It’s reactive depression and this whole thing has been so traumatic. When I got out of hospital it was a downward spiral…”

Another patient who was interviewed, said: “I have good support from my husband but totally rely on him. Then he wasn’t here. He had two weeks work… I was on my own. Not eating properly. I think that’s how I ended up in hospital.”

Researchers say the findings highlight the need for services to take into account complex psychological and social needs and for patients to be better supported. The study, published in the journals Thorax and BMJ Quality and Safety, was funded by the Chief Scientist Office as part of the Scottish Government Health Directorates.

Lead researcher, Professor Tim Walsh, director of the Edinburgh Critical Care Research Group at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This is a fascinating chance to learn from patients and understand avoidable reasons why they might be readmitted to hospital, so that we might spot those most at risk. Our findings show we have some way to go to improve quality of life for intensive care survivors. We have launched a further project to improve the care of the most vulnerable patients by bringing together staff and charities working in hospitals, community health and social care.” New standards in offshore health and safety need to be reached 30 years after the Piper Alpha disaster, Scotland’s energy minister has said.

The North Sea platform exploded in July 1988, leaving 167 men dead. A major conference, Safety 30, is being held in Aberdeen next week to mark progress since the tragedy.

Paul Wheelhouse said the families of those who died deserved to see a safe industry, adding: “The 30th anniversary of this terrible tragedy provides a very important reminder to everyone working in this industry, and in these hostile and dangerous waters, that safety should always be paramount. Nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of those who work offshore. We must strive to achieve and sustain new standards of offshore health and safety, aiming to make the UK Continental Shelf the safest place to work in the global oil and gas industry.”