Medical negligence claim news
12/06/2009

NHS at risk from growing numbers of locums

Growing reliance on locum doctors is set to lead to a rise in medical negligence compensation claims.

A report in the Birmingham Post states that a clinical negligence solicitor from the city warned the NHS was at risk from locums.

The lawyer said home visits and out of hours services were staffed by locum professionals from overseas who were unfamiliar with UK health practices.

"Throwing someone in with little induction is a prescription for disaster. Unfortunately, with pressure on the NHS to deliver treatment faster and new rules limiting the employment time of junior doctors, the use of locum services in GP practices and hospitals is only going to grow," she said.

Her claims came after a recent fatality when an overdose was given by a German doctor to a 70-year-old patient. On his first shift, the doctor gave ten times the usual amount of painkiller drug to the elderly man.

The female lawyer said "structural changes" were needed in the NHS to prevent growth in numbers of clinical negligence claims.