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News items on 'Clinical Negligence'
Hospital surgeons operated on wrong patient
(Telegraph 23/08/2009)
The unlucky patient at the hospital in London underwent a lung operation that should have been carried out on his namesake who was left behind in the ward. The blunder is just one of a catalogue of medical mistakes that has led to a 20 per cent rise in the amount of compensation paid to patients who are the victims of botched hospital treatment. This week it was revealed compensation to patients surged to an all-time high of £769. 16 people lodge claims against the NHS every 24 hours.
Fear over NHS compensation scale
(BBC 14/08/2009)
The NHS in Wales is facing potential clinical negligence claims of up to £500m, it has been disclosed. There has been concern for many years about the spiralling cost of clinical negligence claims and trusts expect to pay out more than £140m this year. Opposition parties have voiced concerns about the potential scale of compensation, set in the NHS accounts. But the assembly government said it had to include projected figures which were not necessarily the amounts paid out.
Avoiding fault in compensation does no-one full justice
(The Scotsman 28/07/2009)
THE Scottish Government has set up a task force to examine a possible change in the way patients could obtain compensation from the NHS. Medical negligence claims require proof that the problem was caused by the NHS or its staff, that they had a legal responsibility to prevent the problem occurring, and that there was clinical negligence. A "no-fault" style of approach is being suggested, which would mean the patient would not have to establish any responsibility or blame.
Dentist struck off for negligence
(BBC 11/06/2009)
An Ayrshire dentist has been struck off over a catalogue of professional errors which left patients with rotting teeth. Andrew Boyd, who practised in Troon for 18 years, was removed from the Dentists' Register following a hearing in London. The General Dental Council was told that the treatment of more than 900 of his former patients had to be reviewed after complaints came to light in 2006. About 100 of those patients required "immediate treatment".
No mistake
(BBC 15/04/2009)
NHS figures suggest that 850,000 patients suffer what experts call "adverse events" every year: clinical negligence, missed diagnoses, medical mistakes and more. The toll in terms of human grief and misery is incalculable. The cost to the NHS - in effect, a cost to us - is around £6bn. But doctors suffer too. The current blame culture in healthcare risks crushing individual medics for one regretful error.
Fatal morphine family win damages
(BBC 03/03/2009)
The family of a woman who died after being prescribed morphine 10 times stronger than her usual dose has won undisclosed damages. Catherine Rodger, 74, from Dundee, died of a heart attack in 2005 within hours of taking her first pill. Dr Salahuddin Malik of the city's Downfield Surgery had prescribed 100mg of morphine sulphate rather than the 10mg she usually took for back pain.
NHS facing '£700m negligence bill
(BBC 06/02/2009)
Clinical negligence payouts by the NHS in England are expected to rise by 80% next year. Trusts have set aside £713m to cover costs, up from about £400m this year, figures obtained by the Tories show. Shadow health minister Mark Simmonds said the payments would have a severe impact on hospital budgets. But the government insists the payouts are "fully covered".
Surgeons who leave operating equipment inside patients cost NHS '£9m
(Daily Mail 04/01/2009)
Patients who leave operating theatres with surgical equipment accidentally left inside them are being awarded millions of pounds in compensation. About two people a week find surgeons have left behind foreign objects such as surgical swabs, clips and screws, according to Government figures released after a Freedom of Information request.
Cancer patient died after hospital error
(The Scotsman 19/12/2008)
HUMAN error and defects in hospital procedures led to a cancer patient being given a lethal dose of the wrong chemotherapy drug, it was ruled yesterday. Alexander Cusker, 75, died after pharmacy staff at Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow mistakenly gave him a dose of Chlormethine in June 2005.
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