September 25th, 2009
New research has suggested that there may be an increase in deaths in hospitals when newly qualified doctors begin practicing on wards each August.
Imperial College London analysed data going back nine years and found that there was a six per cent increase in mortality in the first week of August when compared with the last week in July.
Heart attacks and strokes were found to be the conditions most likely to rise.
Dr Paul Aylin, who managed the research, said the figures suggest that the reshuffling caused by new doctors coming in could be leading to lapses in care.
However, Patricia Hamilton, director of medical education at the Department of Health, denied that this is a factor behind the increase and pointed out that junior doctors are closely monitored, often on a one to one ratio.
This comes after research from the same college earlier this month suggested that 15 per cent of all NHS patients are being misdiagnosed.
Tags: Aylin, Changeover, Deaths, Department Of Health, Dr Paul, Heart Attacks, Hospitals, Imperial College London, Junior Doctors, Lapses, Medical Education, Mortality, Nhs Patients, Nine Years, Patricia Hamilton, Qualified Doctors, Strokes, Wards
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April 3rd, 2009
A family is seeking the advice of clinical negligence solicitors after a grandfather became the 14th person to die from a superbug at a British hospital.
John Saunders, 66, was admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital to have a blood clot removed, the Mirror reports.
His official cause of death was pneumonia, but the superbug Clostrodium difficile (C difficile) was listed as a significant contributing factor.
Jane Stanfield, Mr Saunders’ daughter, said the family is shocked and angry, particularly after hospital chief executive Kim Hodgson declared wards safe.
"I went in to see him just hours before he died and he was struggling to breathe and really uncomfortable. A lot more could have been done for him," she commented.
A spokesperson for the hospital said it would investigate if the family wishes to contact its staff.
It was reported last month that 62 cases of the bacteria have been noted at Eastbourne District General Hospital since January and a total of 14 people have now died there as a result.
Tags: Bacteria, Blood Clot, Cause Of Death, Chief Executive, Clinical Negligence Solicitors, Compensation Claim, Contact, District General Hospital, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Hodgson, John Saunders, Mirror, Mr Saunders, Pneumonia, Spokesperson, Stanfield, Superbug, Wards
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June 25th, 2008
Managers at a hospital in Dumbartonshire failed to act quickly enough to prevent an outbreak of Clostridium difficile superbug, a worker has claimed.
The worker told the BBC that managers at Vale of Leven Hospital did not stop new patients being admitted after the outbreak was first detected.
In addition, the worker claimed infected patients were not isolated and wards were not closed down until it was too late.
"Wards eventually were closed to new admissions, but staff had been questioning why wards weren’t being closed to new admissions," said the source.
A recent report found that 54 patients contracted C difficile since December 2007, resulting in nine deaths, reports the Times.
According to the Department of Health, those at the greatest risk of being infected are patients being treated with a "broad spectrum" of antibiotics. It is usually spread by cross-infection between patients via healthcare staff or a contaminated environment.
Tags: Antibiotics, Bbc, Broad Spectrum, C Diff, Clostridium Difficile, Contaminated Environment, Cross Infection, Deaths, Department Of Health, Healthcare Staff, Hospitals, Outbreak, Risk, Vale Of Leven, Vale Of Leven Hospital, Wards
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June 3rd, 2008
A young girl who received brain damage as a result of clinical negligence by a Suffolk hospital will learn today (June 3rd) how much compensation she is to be awarded.
Holly Goodwyn was born in January 1997. However, delays in her delivery left her with brain injuries and she was subsequently diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
Ipswich Hospital admitted clinical negligence although they were unable to agree a compensation figure with lawyers acting for the girl, according to the East Anglian Daily Times.
Lawyer Sarah Coles said that Holly needs to use an electronic communication device and requires 24 hour care, which is currently provided by her parents and paid carers.
Holly’s mum, Lynne Goodwyn, commented: "Whilst we were reluctant to take legal action in this matter, we felt that the extent of the help Holly requires would not be available otherwise."
In other news, the Ipswich Evening Star reports that new matrons have begun patrolling wards at Ipswich Hospital in an effort to cut MRSA and Clostridium Difficile infections.
Tags: Brain Damage, Brain Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Clinical Negligence, Clostridium, Coles, Communication Device, East Anglian Daily Times, Electronic Communication, Epilepsy, Goodwyn, Holly, Hospital Negligence, Ipswich Evening Star, Ipswich Hospital, Matrons, Mrsa, Star Reports, Wards, Young Girl
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