A new and shocking report in The Daily Telegraph identifies a doubling of compensation payments for substandard medical care over a five-year period.
Based on figures released by the NHS, the report reveals an increased cost to the NHS from £327 million in 2013 – 2014 up to a staggering £655 million in the period 2017 – 2018.
The report suggests that the rise in compensation payments is linked to the increasing severity of medical negligence incidences which, in turn, is caused by rising levels of misdiagnosis, as well as delays in diagnosis and treatment.
In support of this point, The Telegraph reports that waiting times for cancer treatment and the cancellation of appointments have both increased dramatically over recent years. Both of these circumstances are likely to add up to a deterioration in the patient’s long-term outcome.
Quoting NHS figures, the report further identifies that the number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for their planned treatment to start has increased from 182,046 to an unbelievable 562,981 in just five years.
Stephen Webber, the chairman of the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers, of which Glynns Solicitors is a member, is quoted as saying “the cost of these mistakes is terrible human suffering, but also the substantial financial cost in providing the further treatment that has been caused by the errors and the potential for legal claims that could so easily have been avoided.”
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are suffering the long-term impact of a severe failure in medical care, contact Glynns Solicitors today to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
Please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form.
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