Law Firm Says Patient Care Needs to Be Priority after Review Suggests Disciplinary Cases Dropped without Investigation
(PRWEB UK) 21 January 2014 -- Mercury Legal Online says patient care needs to be the number one priority after a review by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) - the body which oversees the work of NHS regulators in the UK – suggests 2,000 medics each year may be permitted to continue working in spite of allegations against them being inadequately investigated. (i)
The national audit examined 100 cases, closed by the General Medical Council (GMC) between October 2012 and March 2013. It found that mistakes were being made in 22 per cent of cases – more than one in five of those examined – for reasons that were not ‘clear or adequate’ in nine of the cases and a failure to gather sufficient evidence in another four of the cases. (i)
The mishandling of the cases meant that doctors were able to carry on working (i) despite processes which are meant to protect patients not being properly followed.
Fiona Hedges, Clinical Negligence Solicitor at Mercury Legal Solicitors, said of the review: “The high numbers being uncovered in this audit by the PSA are deeply concerning. Where inadequacies are found in any area, the individual must be held accountable for the sake of patient safety.
“Every case where there is reason to believe that patient safety is being at all compromised needs to be investigated with a fine tooth comb to ensure the best possible care for all patients. Where this is not the case, patients are being put in danger totally unnecessarily.”
Mercury Legal Online is a group of personal injury solicitors who specialise in providing legal representation for victims of clinical and hospital negligence.
Sources
(i) Thousands of doctors accused of malpractice never fully checked, 16th January 2014: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/laura-donnelly/10576738/Thousands-of-doctors-accused-of-malpractice-never-fully-checked.html
About Mercury Legal Online:
Mercury Legal Online is a trusted group of personal injury solicitors in the UK. Mercury Legal Online is administered and run by Gallium Legal LLP who is regulated by the Ministry of Justice. Find out more at http://www.medicalnegligence-solicitors.com
About Fiona Hedges:
Fiona Hedges is a Solicitor specialising in Medical and Clinical Negligence claims. Fiona has settled claims relating to Negligent Doctors and Hospital Negligence as well as negligent cosmetic surgery procedures.
Charlie Oakham, Mercury Legal, http://www.mercurylegal.co.uk/, +44 8001223130, [email protected]
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