Asons Comment on Plymouth Hospitals Formal Warning after Eight “Never Events” in One Year
Bolton, UK (PRWEB UK) 19 July 2013 -- Derriford hospital has been reported by The Guardian to have failed to protect the safety of patients, after an investigation into at least eight serious surgical errors in the past 12 months; found by the care watch dog CQC (1).
According to the Guardian, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has been told to make immediate improvements to protect patient safety during surgery, after records show that the hospital currently has the second highest number of “never events” in England. The term ‘never event’ is used to describe the incidence of medical errors that should never have happened (1).
Suzanne Yates, Executive at Medical Negligence Solicitors, Asons, commented on the report saying:
“I find it terrifying that such enormous mistakes are being made by medical professionals on such a frequent basis. It is rare for a never event to happen in any circumstances, to hear that this happened eight times in such a short period is a definite sign that poor care is being exercised within this hospital. This failure needs to be addressed with immediate effect, before anyone else suffers such terrible medical negligence”.
The Derriford hospital was given a warning after the CQC launched an unannounced inspection, whereby the hospital failed to meet five out of nine of the national standards that were reviewed, as stated by The Guardian (1).
Between March 12th - 19th there were three reported “never events” that prompted an inspection (1). These incidents included a surgeon operating on the wrong part of the body, a doctor performing a wrong site diagnostic procedure and a patient being given the wrong implant. In another incident, a surgeon began an angioplasty to widen a patient’s blocked artery on the right side of their chest, when it should have been performed on the left (1).
The Guardian stated that CQC inspectors spent two weeks at the hospital probing for information. During this time it was noted that the way in which operations where scheduled raised risks; medical staff were put under too much pressure, thus leading to unnecessary mistakes (1).
This is not the first time the hospital has come under scrutiny, as they were issued with the same warning two years previous to now, prompting the CQC to say that they have “failed to learn the lessons well enough,” after being confronted with the same problem (1).
A similar investigation was launched in 2011 after the hospital encountered a chain of six never events, leading to the CQC to warn them that unless urgent action was taken the trust would be facing prosecution or the complete termination of its operating theatres (1).
The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said in a speech last month that the NHS must overcome the "silent scandal" of hospital errors, that meant 3,000 patients died needlessly last year. He said:
"Every other day we leave a foreign object in someone's body, every week we operate on the wrong part of someone's body, and every fortnight we insert the wrong implant”. (1)
Being victim to a “never event” is a form of medical negligence that can potentially form grounds to file for a clinical negligence compensation claim. Surgical errors such as these are avoidable, and are often the result of poor theatre management or a lack of patient care.
Anyone that may have experienced this level of substandard care can contact Asons Solicitors to find out more information, or to make a claim for compensation. Visit http://www.asons.co.uk or phone 01204 521 133 to speak to one of their medical negligence solicitors.
(1) The Guardian, Plymouth hospital gets formal warning after eight 'never events' in year, 10/07/2013
guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jul/10/plymouth-hospital-warning-never-events
ENDS
About Asons Solicitors:
Asons Solicitors is a Bolton-based law practice that specialises in personal injury and industrial disease claims. Founded by brothers Imran Akram and Kamran Akram, Asons Solicitors has developed to become a young and dynamic law firm that delivers practical solutions to clients in times of difficulty. Their continued focus on their staff has seen them awarded with the Investors in People “Gold Award”; which is reflected in the professional and personable approach they take in working with clients. They strive to grow and to develop, and their supportiveness and attention to detail ensures that their clients use them time and again.
For further information contact:
Email: info(at)asons(dot)co.uk
Website: http://www.asons.co.uk
Imran Akram, Asons Solicitors, http://www.asons.co.uk, 08448501062, [email protected]
Share this article