March 18th, 2009
Three NHS patients every month are now receiving compensation of more than £1 million each because of failures in their care in hospital.
According to the Telegraph, almost 500 people have been seriously disabled by the lack of care they have received in hospital since the Clinical Negligence Scheme for NHS Trusts was established 13 years ago.
Groups representing patients have blamed "negligence, incompetence or carelessness" within the NHS for the increase in people being forced to make a claim to pay for their long-term care.
The biggest sum of compensation according to official records was £12.4 million, which was paid to Kerstin Parkin.
She was left brain damaged following errors made by staff during the birth of her baby and could not be resuscitated because the crash team did not have the security code for the emergency room door.
In order for a clinical negligence claim to be successful, a solicitor must establish that the surgeon breached a duty of care agreement between him or her and the patient.
Anyone who is unsure about a particular incident should seek legal advice.
Tags: 1 Million, 13 Years, Brain, Carelessness, Clinical Negligence, Crash Team, Duty Of Care, Emergency Room, Groups, Hospital Negligence, Incompetence, Legal Advice, Long Term Care, Negligence Claim, Nhs Patients, Nhs Trusts, Security Code, Solicitor, Telegraph
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August 21st, 2008
A nursery nurse from the north-east of England has secured compensation after an accident at work left her with serious injuries.
Gillian Scott was awarded a total of £75,000 as a result of the incident. The sum was paid by her former employer the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which describes itself as one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK.
The 42-year-old was carrying a box through a cupboard door in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary when the contents of the container slipped and caused her to fall and hit a door.
She twisted her back as a result and has had to undergo spinal surgery.
Ms Scott stated: "I was off work for a long time and then had further relapses."
Despite the fact that her employer reduced her hours, she was unable to resume her role and is now considering alternative work.
Tags: Back Injury, Cupboard, Damages, Foundation Trust, Gillian, Hospitals, Leads, Long Time, Ms Scott, Newcastle, Nhs Trusts, North East Of England, Nursery Nurse, Resume, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Spinal Surgery, Wins
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June 17th, 2008
Almost a quarter of NHS Trusts have admitted they are not meeting government hygiene standards, it has been reported.
From next year, NHS Trusts which fail to comply with the government’s Hygiene Code could face closure, according to Legal & Medical magazine.
Commenting on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the chief executive of the Healthcare Commission Anna Walker said: "We make no apologies for the tougher standards but we have to acknowledge that the NHS are working against them."
Ms Walker added: "We are going to visit every hospital in the country to ensure that they have a plan in place to meet these standards."
Around £50 million has been spent conducting a nationwide deep clean throughout UK hospitals. The programme was carried out in 93 per cent of trusts.
The Cleaning and Support Services Association recently said one of the reasons that seven per cent of hospitals failed to carry out the deep clean was the pace at which it was carried out, reports the BBC.
Tags: 50 Million, Amp, Bbc, Bbc Radio 4, Chief Executive, Closure, Face, Healthcare Commission, Hygiene Standards, Medical Magazine, Ms Walker, Nhs Trusts, No Apologies, Pace, Uk Hospitals
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June 4th, 2008
The government is planning to publish a comparison of death rates of patients undergoing major surgery in NHS hospitals, it has been reported.
According to the Guardian, the move will expose dramatic differences in the mortality rates of those undergoing medical procedures in NHS Trusts.
The Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons recently carried out an experiment by publishing the mortality rates of surgeons carrying out heat bypass operations.
Research found that surgeons took on an increased number of riskier operations without a rise in mortality rates.
Sir Bruce Keogh, a heart surgeon and former president of the society, commented: "The writing has been on the wall since the inquiry into the deaths of children at Bristol Royal Infirmary ten years ago."
He added: "There has been a lot of talk about more openness, but we as a profession have not made much progress."
The Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons helps monitor standards and investigate problems relating to heart surgery.
Tags: Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bruce Keogh, Bypass Operations, Death Rates, Disparity, Dramatic Differences, Former President, Guardian, Heart Surgeon, Heart Surgery, Major Surgery, Medical Procedures, Mortality Rate, Mortality Rates, Nhs Hospitals, Nhs Trusts, Openness, Operations Research, Profession, Society Of Cardiothoracic Surgeons
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