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Hospital bed crisis a ticking time-bomb
The almost continual cases of a hospital bed crisis is a ticking time-bomb in terms of medical negligence compensation claims.
Although we can all appreciate the struggles that our hard-working NHS is facing in light of underfunding and a lack of resources, when we face preventable issues like an almost cyclical hospital bed crisis, patients can suffer. When patients do suffer, they may have no alternative but to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation to get their life back on track.
The need to claim when it’s a preventable issue that has caused suffering and / or complications means that any hospital bed crisis is a ticking time-bomb, and given they are regular in winter months, something needs to give.
Inquiry called for over-prescribing drugs
An inquiry has been called for over-prescribing drugs which is said to be a growing problem here in the UK where we may be at risk of following in the footsteps of our American cousins who are said to be in somewhat of an “epidemic” for certain prescription drugs like opioids.
Experts are reportedly calling for a “Chilcot style” enquiry off the back of doctors apparently issuing too many prescription drugs that are leading to deaths.
Tens of thousands of people are thought to die each year as a result of an over-prescription of drugs as doctors may be relying too heavily on their use to treat patients.
Ambulance misfuelling incidents putting lives at risk
Ambulance ‘misfuelling’ incidents are said to be putting lives at risk, with campaigners saying misfuelling incidents are threatening patient safety.
According to reports gleaned from a Telegraph Freedom of Information request, there have been more than 750 incidents of “misfuelling” with ambulances since 2012, which can put ambulances out of action for weeks at a time in some cases.
As a result of the issue, some NHS Trusts are said to be trialling alerts to prevent misfuelling incidents occurring.
Hundreds may have died in NHS breast cancer screening scandal
The Injury Lawyers are investigating the breaking news that hundreds of women may have died in an NHS breast cancer screening scandal.
Women aged between 68 and 71 who were supposed to have received a letter inviting them for lifesaving breast cancer screening never received their invitations because of an IT glitch that happened in 2009.
The glitch was discovered in January this year, and the government believes that as many as 270 people have died as a result of not having breast cancer screening, and these deaths may be linked to the glitch.
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NHS may be heading for a summer crisis after the recent winter dilemma
According to experts, the NHS may be heading for a summer crisis after the recent winter crisis that has seen the healthcare sector stretched to dangerous levels.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has reportedly claimed that the performance of the NHS in the coming summer months is set to be as bad as it was over winter, where the NHS was faced with increasingly high levels of admissions.
If the NHS is set for a summer crisis, patients’ health – and lives – may well be at risk.
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NHS crisis worsens as patient care reportedly deteriorates…
The NHS crisis worsens, according to the latest information from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), which is a huge worry for increasing medical negligence claims. It’s thought that more than two-thirds of staff believe patient safety has declined over the past year since the last time key questions about the state of the NHS were asked.
Around 1,500 NHS employees were asked the same questions they’d been questioned about last year on the conditions they’re working in and the quality of care available, and some 80% are reportedly worried about the ability to keep patients safe, with 84% citing demoralised staff as a result of increased pressure on the NHS.
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Why should victims of medical negligence settle for an apology?
We were recently made aware that some chiefs in the NHS believe that medical negligence victims should settle for an apology and nothing more. There was also a suggestion that many would.
It all comes down to cutting the legal costs that the NHS is facing; but denying a victim’s rights to fair and reflective justice is not the way forward for this. Many of these headlines burst from the press pages and they often paint the lawyers in the worst kind of light.
Here are some reasons as to why this theory of just saying sorry to a victim of medical negligence is fundamentally flawed.
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Ian Paterson’s sentence increased from 15 to 20 years
Notorious breast surgeon, Ian Paterson, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in May 2017 for carrying out unnecessary and unapproved surgery on a number of patients. However, the Nottingham Court of Appeal found that his current sentence was “not sufficient” and have consequently increased his sentence from 15 years to 20 years.
The news has been welcomed by victims, many of whom have claimed or are claiming compensation as a result of his actions.
The prosecution in the case demonstrated the clear evidence of medical experts that confirmed that the work he carried out for some patients was totally unnecessary, and for others he had intentionally failed to follow protocol as part of what appeared to be some form of “experimental surgery” he was conducting.
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Demand for public inquiry over use of “dangerous” vaginal mesh implants
Senior medical experts are demanding a public enquiry be opened to investigate the use of vaginal mesh implants in the U.K.
The Guardian reports that a “significant proportion of patients have been left with traumatic complications”. We ourselves are involved in the legal actions for the use of vaginal mesh implants where things have gone wrong, so we’re no stranger to the issues at hand.
However, as problems continue to arise, the calls for more investigation and more action continue to grow.
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Hundreds of patients coming forward after rogue surgeon convicted of wounding with intent
The Injury Lawyers are investigating the issues surrounding Paterson’s convictions, and any victims who need our expert legal advice are welcome to approach us for help
Former renowned breast surgeon Ian Paterson was stripped of his title after he reportedly performed botched surgeries on potentially thousands of patients.
Following on from almost 10 years of investigations into his misconduct, Paterson was convicted late last month of causing harm with intent in numerous cases. Paterson was found to have performed unnecessary surgery and increased risks of cancer in some cases, and hundreds of patients are now coming forward to seek legal advice.
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