Patient Association publishes report on 'cruel and neglectful' standards of care within the NHS
The Patients Association (PA) in a report published today has identified a consistent pattern of 'cruel and neglectful' standards of care within the NHS.
These accounts reveal patients being denied basic dignity in their care including:
- Often left in soiled bed clothes
- Being given inadequate food and drink
- Having repeated falls
- Suffering from late diagnosis
- Cancelled operations
- Bungled referrals
- Misplaced notes
There are also worrying instances of cruel and callous attitudes from staff towards vulnerable and sometimes terminally ill patients.
The PA, usually with a sympathetic leaning towards the NHS, decided to publish a number of accounts to highlight the unacceptable experiences facing patients up and down the country on a regular basis. The PA has called on the Government and the Care Quality Commission to conduct an urgent review of the standards of basic care being received by patients in hospital and demands stricter supervision and regulation of hospital care.
Partners in our Medical Negligence group and leading lawyers Adrian Desmond and Sue Brown comment on the findings:
Adrian Desmond: 'This shocking report must surely be a wake up call for the Government and NHS managers to improve the standard of care given by the NHS. If only patients were more willing to complain and take action against NHS Trusts these sorts of appalling experiences would decline. Sadly the opposite seems to be happening perhaps for reasons of complacency and over emphasis on tick box and target driven medical and nursing care the NHS is frankly losing the plot.'
Sue Brown: 'The report out from the Patient's Association makes very depressing reading, but sadly comes as no surprise as we receive numerous enquiries from patients and families concerned about the standard of nursing care that they have received. We have been involved in a number of medical negligence claims of poor nursing care where patients have suffered serious pressure sores and the wrong drugs as a result of failings in their care.'
Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems we recommend that professional advice be sought.
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