Clinical Negligence Solicitors

Despite the government’s claims that the NHS is performing well, the ever increasing pressure on the NHS is no secret. Despite record levels of investment the UK’s Public Healthcare system still does not have the money it needs to look after those who need it most.

A catalogue of ever building issues has led Professor Chris Ham to declare that the NHS is a “health service on the brink”. The British Red Cross has recently described the NHS as a humanitarian crisis, a suggestion that has been rejected by the Prime Minister. The Charity’s Chief Executive has said that the phrase was justified by the scale of the “threat “posed to the nation’s health and well-being by pressures on the system.

In early December the NHS ran out of intensive care beds for critically ill children with the result that they were sent miles away for treatment. In addition, those suffering from eating disorders haven’t been able to gain access to local treatment for months and in some cases, years.

Ambulances are often unable to respond to urgent calls due to an ambulance shortage resulting from massive queues outside hospitals as completely overrun A&E departments are unable to take critically ill patients. This, coupled with the frequent breaches in vital A&E waiting times, is causing NHS bosses to hear than an acceptable and safe quality level of care may become increasingly difficult to achieve.

To help target these growing issues, NHS England have launched an initiative titled Sustainability and Transformation Plans targeted at improving patient care and NHS efficiency. The idea is for local healthcare branches to come together to produce 5 year plans or a ‘five year forward view’. These plans will be geographically catered, making them relevant to local populations. They will be ‘locally defined, based on natural communities, existing working relationships [and] patient flows’. STP Footprints will be put in charge of the programme, not to replace local bodies, but change the route of accountability. However, this move to become more sustainable and efficient could lead to already overrun A&E units, maternity wards and hospitals being shut down, with other services merged.

Rebecca Thomas, Director of Clinical Negligence at Duncan Lewis Solicitors comments that:

“It is clear that the existing NHS is struggling to cope to provide timely treatment and medical care. The NHS England STP should be welcomed as they will bring about change and planning in a more coherent way in a NHS that is increasingly costly and complex. If the STP’s are going to succeed however, the Government will need to inject funds to invest in community based services”.

Author Rebecca Thomas is a Director of Clinical Negligence at Duncan Lewis. Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in her field and represents clients in a wide range of cases including claims involving cosmetic and dental negligence, surgical and orthopaedic injuries arising from delay, misdiagnosis or negligent spinal surgery, gastrointestinal and ophthalmic surgery.

The Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence team has significant experience acting in a vast array of claims. Varying from accident and emergency failures to GP negligence claims, to misdiagnosed fractures to wrongful death matters claims. They also act for children and adults who have suffered profound and permanent brain, spinal or neurological injuries and associated disabilities as a consequence of failings in medical care in both NHS and private hospitals. If you have any queries relating to Clinical Negligence or think that you may have a claim, please do not hesitate to contact our team of expert solicitors on 03337720409.