Safety Risks for Hospital Patients Treated with Insulin Highlighted in Report
A new report from the Health Services Safety and Investigations Body warns that insulin remains a high-alert medicine in hospitals, with many inpatient diabetes patients at risk of harm due to gaps in staff confidence and competence.
Key Points
- Report published by HSSIB on March 26, 2026 examining insulin safety in hospitals
- Most inpatient diabetes care delivered by non-specialist staff lacking confidence and competence
- Insulin identified as high-alert medicine with persistently high burden of avoidable harm
- Safety failures span reconciliation, prescribing, administration, monitoring and peri-operative care
Full Details
The Health Services Safety and Investigations Body (HSSIB) published a report on 26 March 2026 examining the management of diabetes care and safe use of insulin in hospitals across England. The report found that most inpatient diabetes care is delivered by non-specialist staff who may lack confidence and competence in diabetes management. The report identifies safety failures spanning reconciliation, prescribing, administration, monitoring, and peri-operative management. Consultant pharmacist Hannah Beba from West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership stated that insulin remains a high-alert medicine with a persistently high burden of avoidable harm in inpatient care. The findings highlight risks that have led to patients coming to harm or dying when their diabetes condition was not appropriately managed during hospital admissions.
Why It Matters
This report underscores the need for improved training and protocols for non-specialist staff handling insulin administration in hospitals, potentially leading to systemic changes in diabetes care delivery across NHS facilities.
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