Expect a rise in patients suing NHS over long waits, watchdog warns

[Northerner]

The NHS should expect a surge of medical negligence claims because of longer waiting lists in areas including cancer care and planned operations, Whitehall’s spending watchdog has said.

The National Audit Office said two in five compensation claims were due to delays in treatment or diagnosis, but this figure could rise if patients continued to be left on long waiting lists.

“Given that 40% of clinical negligence claims are brought because of delays in diagnosis or treatment, there is a risk that longer waiting times may lead to an increasing number of future claims,” the independent body said in a report.

NHS England is reviewing health service targets and could scrap the current 18-week target for people to start treatment following a referral. The target covers non-emergency operations, such as hip and knee replacements or cataract removal.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...g-waiting-time-watchdog-national-audit-office

 

[mikeyB]

But hospitals just don’t have the money to provide a perfect service. Keep suing hospitals for delays and winning compensation will make that worse, though I don’t blame people for doing it.

NHS England has made as many efficiency cuts as it possibly can. We’re seeing the end result of that.

 

[Docb]

Easy solution. Pass a law saying that doctors do not have to carry medical insurance. It would instantaneously stop medical negligence claims the vast majority of which are best viewed as easy money taken off insurance companies by lawyers. Doctors could then get on with attending to patients.

 

[Sally71]

The NHS is doing its best with extremely limited resources. If anyone wants to sue anyone it should be the government for not allocating them more. (And for wasting so much time and money arguing over Brexit instead of just getting on with it or cancelling it and then getting back to more important matters such as the nation's health.)

 

[Northerner]

The NHS is doing its best with extremely limited resources. If anyone wants to sue anyone it should be the government for not allocating them more. (And for wasting so much time and money arguing over Brexit instead of just getting on with it or cancelling it and then getting back to more important matters such as the nation's health.)

Absolutely. Didn't I read the other day it's costing £500m a week - as opposed to the £350m a week it was supposed to save us? 😱 Not to mention all the resources that have been diverted Cameron has a lot to answer for, but probably never will

 

[nonethewiser]

Sadly long delays can have tragic consequences, but suing a cash strapped service like the NHS isn't the answer.