Shocking new medical negligence statistics

According to a recent report published by the National Audit Office, over 2,000 patients died last year in hospital as a direct result of errors and accidents by medical staff.

Another 1 million were subject to “near miss” incidents where safety was compromised, and the figure could be a lot higher as many incidents go unreported, according to the Spending Watchdog.

Worryingly, the report also suggests that the NHS is simply unaware of the exact number of potentially dangerous events – some estimates put the number of yearly fatalities at closer to 34,000.

Personal injury solicitors, The Claim Solicitors (www.the-claim-solicitors.co.uk), have noticed a steep rise in the number of medical negligence cases being brought to their attention every year. “Some years ago, cases involving medical negligence were comparatively rare.". “But more and more frequently, we are helping clients recover significant damages as the result of clinical accidents and mishaps that have ruined their lives.”

The NAO report suggests that patients who are involved in safety lapses are often not told by their NHS trust – only a quarter told patients routinely what had happened to them, while six percent never told patients at all.

And, by failing to report accidents and incidents of medical negligence routinely, lessons are not learnt and mistakes are often repeated. Part of the problem, it was suggested, is a culture of blame that exists in hospitals, which makes it very difficult for staff to report any problems that they have encountered.

The ways in which people can be hurt in hospitals range from falls, wrong medications or dosage, equipment related mistakes and errors with documentation and communication between staff.

“We support the very great work that the NHS does, but we also accept that sometimes, things go wrong – often to the extreme detriment of the patient.” “Anyone who has been hurt in this way – perhaps as the result of an accident or treatment that has made their condition worse – has the right to seek compensation. Lives can be devastated by events of this kind, and it’s important to be aware that a compensation award can help them get their lives back on to some sort of even keel.”