Bungling NHS medics injured 6,000 patients last year… costing you £1.48billion in compo
Health service forced to pay out £1.48bil compensation in 2015 - up 27 per cent from the year before
THE number of NHS patients injured in accidents caused by bungling medics soared to more than 6,000 last year.
Furious campaigners blamed a lack of staff and poor training for the mistakes.
The gaffes, which meant further NHS treatment being required, resulted in injuries including accidental cuts, punctures and haemorrhages.
Many victims also claimed compensation, with the health service forced to pay out £1.48billion in 2015.
That is a 27 per cent increase on 2014.
The number of accidents in English hospitals hit 6,082 in 2015 — up from 2,193 ten years ago.
Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association, called on the Government and Royal Colleges to take action to address the “alarming rise”.
She added: “With all the systems and procedures that are in place within the NHS, how are such basic, avoidable mistakes still happening?
“It is a disgrace that such incidents are increasing. There is clearly a lack of learning across the NHS, or even within individual trusts.
“These patients have been very badly let down by poor processes and utter carelessness.”
Andrew Goddard, of the Royal College of Physicians, has warned that a funding and staffing crisis is putting huge pressure on doctors.
He said: “Physicians are facing rota gaps, consultants acting down into trainee positions, inability to recruit to posts in key specialities due to a lack of trainees, and difficulties in covering day-to-day services.
"We’re heading into an extremely difficult autumn.”
His counterparts in childcare claim services are at “breaking point”.
The charity Action Against Medical Accidents said more complex operations and better reporting of incidents may have influenced the rise in recorded errors.
A Department of Health spokesman told The Daily Mail that the Government is “working relentlessly on driving up standards”.