Clinical negligence case prompts out-of-hours care reform

Posted 05/02/2010

An inquest into a clinical negligence case in Cambridgeshire is to lead to a reform of out-of-hours care provision.

Authorities have concluded an investigation into locum doctor Daniel Ubani following an incident which saw him administer a fatal morphine overdose to Manea resident David Gray.

Commenting at the inquest, Cambridgeshire North and East coroner William Morris branded the current provision of out-of-hours care as “lamentable”, criticising the system for failing to guarantee Dr Ubani’s competence and capability.

Responding to these findings, the Department of Health has committed to “tough new measures” designed to bring the sector under closer scrutiny.

These will include ensuring that out-of-hours providers are registered with the Care Quality Commission and subjected to compliance checks.

Health minister Mike O’Brien said: “I expect all primary care trusts to act on these recommendations … It is unacceptable for any trust to fail to meet its obligations on safety and quality of care.”

Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, a clinical negligence specialist at Ashtons Legal, said: “We are currently spending thousands of pounds a week on flying doctors in from abroad to provide out-of-hours care, when we could pay our own GPs less but a reasonable amount to do the job better – it is in the best interests of patients and provides the continuity of care they need.

“It is not rocket science and it is regrettable that someone had to die and the family pursue the matter for the real risks of the present situation to be appreciated.”