08
Apr 2015
Investigation unit ‘much needed’ for medical accidents within NHS
MPs say that a national body should be established immediately to investigate medical accidents because of the current scale of the problems within the NHS.
The House of Commons Public Administration select committee said that the current safety system for patients “took too long” and was “too complicated”.
Following release of the Morecambe Bay hospital inquiry into baby deaths, the government has conceded that such changes may be needed and has announced that it was considering setting up such a service.
The inquiry revealed that one mother and 11 babies avoidably died, and a further number suffered asphyxia at birth leading to cerebral palsy, at Furness General Hospital in Cumbria, with the scandal remaining unchecked for years as patients fought to bring to light what had been happening.
The group of MPs said that this, together with the Stafford Hospital scandal, showed that no such further delays should be allowed to happen.
Current estimates show that there are 12,000 unnecessary hospitals deaths each year, and over 10,000 serious incidents being reported annually to NHS England. This includes 338 “never events”, including operations being performed on the wrong part of the body.
Committee chairman, Bernard Jenkin, said that for years it had been “evident that the NHS has urgent need of a simpler and more trusted system.
“There needs to be investigative capacity so that facts and evidence can be established early, without the need to find blame, and regardless of whether a complaint has been raised.”
The investigation of patient safety is currently the responsibility nationally of the Care Quality Commission and Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and NHS trusts themselves at a local level.
Peter Walsh, of Action against Medical Accidents, said system changes were “much needed”.
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in Medical negligence compensation claims, and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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