NHS trusts ‘are exposing patients to clinical negligence risks’

Posted 30/11/2009

A number of NHS trusts across the UK are exposing patients to increased risk of clinical negligence by failing to conform to safety standards, according to a new report.

Dr Foster’s Intelligence has published its annual Hospital Guide, revealing that 12 trusts have failed to meet its standards for patient safety, while seven are failing to comply with National Patient Safety Agency alerts.

In addition, 27 trusts were recorded as having high hospital standardised mortality ratios, while nine reported more than six incidents of foreign objects being left inside patients after surgery in the last year.

Roger Taylor, director and co-founder of Dr Foster, stated that some progress had been made in hospital safety but called for trusts to be held more accountable for their quality of care.

He added that the current variation in treatment standards across the UK is “unacceptable”.

Last week, the Care Quality Commission called for improvements at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Essex after investigations revealed below-par hygiene and treatment standards at one of its hospitals.

Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, a clinical negligence specialist at Ashtons Legal, said: “These figures are of concern, particularly the mortality ratios.

“It is unclear how the Care Commission intends to deal with these issues and a radical rethink may be required to ensure consistent standards and that trusts are meeting appropriate levels of care.”