NHS killed two patients after giving them hash browns and sponge cake when they couldn’t swallow

BLUNDERING NHS staff killed at least two sick Brits after wrongly giving them hash browns and sponge cakes, a watchdog warns.

Both patients had swallowing difficulties and choked to death in hospital after eating the wrong foods.

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A national alert reveals a further seven came to significant harm due to staff confusion about the term “soft diet”.

It resulted in some needing an emergency response to breathe and cases of pneumonia.

NHS Improvement said another 270 people ended up choking over a two-year period because they were wrongly given solid food.

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Stroke and head injury patients often have swallowing difficulties, as well as some cancer and dementia sufferers.

Sick brits with jaw injuries and lost dentures may also require soft diets, which involve pureed or liquidized meals.

But the report reveals confused NHS staff misunderstood the term and were instead feeding vulnerable Brits hash browns, mince and peas and sponge cake.

NHS Improvement’s Executive Medical Director and Chief Operating Officer Dr Kathy McLean said:
“Vulnerable patients have died or been harmed because there is confusion in the way people describe what type of food is suitable for those with swallowing or chewing difficulties.

“We are calling on everyone providing NHS-funded care to start using precise terminology to help avoid further harm.

“This will help save lives and make the NHS safer.”

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Officials now want to scrap the term soft diet across the NHS by April next year to avoid further harm.

Instead they want the hospitals and care homes to describe foods appropriate for each patient, such as minced or liquidised.

In one case, a hospital reported “patient with documented swallowing difficulties given soft diet including mince and peas at lunch…unresponsive episode…. Difficulty ventilating patient overnight.

Peas [suctioned out via] endotracheal tube.”

Swallowing difficulties can affect people of all ages, including children.

Chair of the Older People Specialist Group of the British Dietetic Association, Alison Smith said adopting the new guidelines will boost patient safety.