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Hannah Ellis, Emily Ellis and Peter Ellis discuss the legal legislation surrounding safeguarding and explore how it applies to kidney care specialists [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sally Dixon discusses the importance of safeguarding in dental practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health professionals have a duty to preserve women's right to respectful care; however, many women worldwide experience mistreatment in childbirth by health professionals. Aim: To explore the evidence regarding mistreatment during childbirth in Arab countries. Method: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis was conducted, using a number of research databases and search methods. The search was limited to studies with abstracts in English published between January 1990 and March 2018. Findings: Overall, 4597 results were identified. Of 132 screened abstracts, 8 were included after full-text screening using eligibility criteria. Two themes culturally relevant to Arab countries emerged: 'power and control' and 'health professionals' status'. Conclusions: This review supports the World Health Organization (WHO) assertion that mistreatment is a broader and more complex phenomenon than previously thought. The findings from this review indicate that healthcare in the Arab world requires significant improvement and advancement to meet the WHO standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney patients often find themselves in a position of vulnerability, increasing the chances of them suffering abuse. In the first part of this series, Peter and Emily Ellis explain what circumstances make a person vulnerable or 'at risk', highlight the behaviours that can be classsified as abusive, and suggest what kidney care professionals can do to eliminate and prevent abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been two widely reported criminal cases where informal carers, including family members, have been found guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of the vulnerable person in their care. In this article, Richard Griffith considers the duty on informal carers when caring for a person and the duty on district nurses to protect vulnerable persons from harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the role of the dental team in safeguarding vulnerable adults under Care Act 2014 in Great Britain. Vulnerable adults are victims of abuse and neglect including physical abuse, sexual abuse and modern slavery who could suffer injuries to their teeth, mouth, face, head eyes and ears. It also suggests the need for dental care professionals to report abuse to local authorities and provide proper dental care.

While much is written about the regulation of healthcare support workers (HCSWs), many authors and policy makers do not distinguish between assumption and evidence. As calls for compulsory regulation of HCSWs grow louder, it is crucial that the evidence underpinning the debate on both sides is considered carefully and critically. The authors reviewed journal articles and policy documents with the specific aim of clarifying the arguments for and against further regulation from an evidence-based perspective. The majority of material recommended HCSW regulation, however, the mechanisms by which regulation would deliver better patient care were often missing and were rarely evidence-based. This article provides clear definitions of the key terms and processes needed to engage in the debate, followed by a summary of the arguments for and against the regulation of support workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining professional boundaries is essential to an effective nurse-patient relation whose sole focus must be on the care and treatment needs of the patient. Complaints about failures to maintain professional boundaries are increasing, with the Nursing and Midwifery Council reporting some 247 new cases in the year 2011-12. This article outlines the scope of the nurse-patient relationship, what activity is considered to be outside the professional relationship and considers the consequences for community nurses if they are found to have breached a professional boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nursing and Midwifery Council, the statutory professional regulator for registered district nurses, has introduced a revised code of standards that came into effect on 31 March 2015. The Code makes clear that while district nurses can interpret the values and principles for use in community settings, the standards are not negotiable or discretionary. They must be applied, otherwise the district nurse’s fitness to practice will be called into question. In the second of a series of articles analysing the legal implications of the Code on district nurse practice, the author considers the first standard, which requires district nurses to treat people as individuals and to uphold their dignity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trudie Dawson considers the role of the dental nurse in safeguarding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This fourth article will explore the resources available to those who are abused and also the measures available to prevent abuse by healthcare professionals. It was found that, despite good intentions, available measures, which include training and supervision of those likely to abuse, changes in environment, relying on the victim's own support network and generalist professional support networks, are far from adequate. There are a number of measures available to prevent abuse by care professionals from happening. These include clinical supervision, continuing professional development and training, current research awareness and implementation and vastly improved communication between care providers. The only organization that appears to be working in the field of abuse by healthcare professionals is the London-based voluntary sector organization WITNESS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is often the most vulnerable members of society that suffer from the physical, psychological, sexual, financial, neglectful and/or discriminatory maltreatment that characterizes the multifaceted nature of abuse. Individuals dependent on care, whether in the remit of health and social care or educational support, may suffer from abuse at the hands of care professionals. This article introduces a series on abuse with a focus on the various definitions of abuse and the historical and international context of mistreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When it comes to safeguarding, what are the consequences if it all goes wrong? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses a recent guidance report from the Royal College of Nursing, designed to enhance the safeguarding of adults at risk of abuse [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented in which author discusses health and social care services in England. Topics discussed include information on Parity of Esteem which is established to valuing mental health equally with physical health; use of the Mental Health Act (MHA) determining how providers are caring for patient; and information on Care Quality Commission (CQC) which conducted an inspection to provide care and treatment to people with a learning disability or autism.

An editorial is presented which addresses the author's views about the need for patient safety and an end to the dehumanising and abusive treatment of patients by medical staff members in Great Britain. The British Care Quality Commission’s report on medical care quality is examined, along with treatment of patients at the Whorlton Hall private hospital for people with learning disabilities which is funded by Great Britain's National Health Service.

The article focuses on the Great Britian law that criminalises ill treatment and wilful neglect of women as recommended by the National Advisory Group on the Safety of Patients in England. Topics covered include three ill-treatment and wilful neglect offenses as to section 127 of the Mental Health Act 1983, The Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Also mentioned are new offences of care providers as to section 21 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2005.

Nurses have a professional duty to safeguard vulnerable adults from abuse under the provisions of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) revised Code (2015). With adult abuse continuing to increase, all members of the nursing team are well placed to identify and take action to safeguard the vulnerable. This article sets out how the Care Act 2014 seeks to improve the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and the role of nurses in that process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crimes of ill-treating or wilfully neglecting patients have been extended to protect all patients regardless of age or decision-making capacity. A new offence has also been created that will allow for the prosecution of care organisations where ill treatment or wilful neglect has resulted from a gross breach of that organisation's duty of care to its patient. In this article, the author sets out the elements of these criminal offences and considers their implications for nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses th independent regulator of health and social care services for adults in England the Care Quality Commission and its updated quality standards in medical care. The author comments on informed patient consent, safety measures for patients, and patient-centered care. Patient nutrition and hydration, dignity, and respect are explored.

The article provides information on removal of a dentist from its practice by the General Dental Council (GDC), as he was involved in sexual activity with a boy child.

The article reports on an undercover investigation which began in 2011 with the British television program "Panorama" and uncovered staff initiated criminal abuse of learning disabled patients at Winterbourne View Hospital near Bristol, England. A discussion of several British government reviews which were conducted to investigate the abuse and prevent similar abuse, and of the impact that the reviews will have on future British hospital care, is presented.

The article reports on guidelines on reducing the inappropriate use of physical restraints in health and social care facilities which were developed by Great Britain's Department of Health. In the article the author offers his opinions on the appropriate and inappropriate use of restraints and on the Department of Health's guidelines.

The recommendation that the criminal offence of wilful neglect be extended to protect all patient groups may seem a proactive way for the Government to begin to restore public confidence in nursing following the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust Inquiry. However, the experience of the courts hearing cases of wilful neglect in relation to adults who lack capacity show that they are complex trials and, despite several appeals, still lack clear guidance that nurses can apply in practice to avoid prosecution while still promoting the autonomy of patients. In this article the author reviews recent cases of wilful neglect to come before the Court of Appeal and argues that rather than offering protection to patients, criminalising a failure to act is more likely to result in paternalistic interventions, with nurses insisting on providing care because they fear prosecution if they fail to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses discrimination against disabled persons in Great Britain, with particular focus on abuses in the health and social care sectors. He notes a 2007 report of deaths of patients with learning disabilities in National Health Service (NHS) hospitals due to negligence by nurses, healthcare assistants (HCAs), or physicians. He argues that nurses and other health care providers have the responsibility to help end discrimination and the disabled and their carers.

The article focuses on media reports in Great Britain which have discussed unethical behavior, including sexual abuse of patients by former British television personality Jimmy Saville, and cases of patient abuse at a facility called Winterbourne View, which have been seen in health care facilities operated by Great Britain's National Health Service. In the article the author offers her opinions on the future of nursing in Great Britain and on whether corporate willful neglect should be a crime.

In this article the author discusses the important role that nurses and nursing students play in safeguarding patients who are vulnerable to being abused and discusses the ethical challenges that nurses face when reporting suspected cases of abuse in patients. In the article the author offers her opinions on the obligation that nurses and nursing students have to safeguard patients who may be vulnerable to being abused and to report patient abuse. Safeguarding resources for nurses are discussed.

The author reflects on professional standards regarding the medical care of patients with learning disabilities in Great Britain. He suggests that nurses and managers should be vigilant regarding the care of learning disabled patients and be asked to account for not reporting substandard care. He argues that It is unacceptable that in 2012 some of the most vulnerable members of society are still not experiencing safe and appropriate care and support.

In this article the author discusses British documentary films which have been concerned with patient abuse and the abuse of people with learning disabilities. He is supportive of nurses playing a role in patient protection and is critical of abuse which happens to patients or people with disabilities and of an apparent inability to make changes in policies which could lead to the protection of patients and the learning disabled.

Examines the effectiveness of British Department of Health publication "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" in improving learning disability care. Systemic abuses of patients in learning disability care homes; Types of abuses against patients.

Presents the case of abuse experienced by an Alzheimer's disease patient in a nursing home. Details of the case; Relevant clauses of the Code of Professional Conduct; Findings of the professional conduct committee. INSET: BREACH OF THE CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.