29
Sep 2015
Cancelled surgery causes over 100 patients to die in last 12 months
Figures released by NHS England have shown that last year, 71,482 operations were postponed and 104 people died before their cancelled NHS surgery could be rescheduled.
The figures also show that 27 operations were cancelled by hospitals for non-medical reasons where the patients later died, and that 6,100 patients have been waiting at least a year, with the worst examples approaching three years.
3.12 million patients are currently waiting for routine procedures and operations, although as not all trusts report this information, it is estimated that the true figure could be ‘just under 3.4 million’, which the highest number since 2008.
The figure is up by around a third since 2010, when 2.5 million patients were on the lists.
Last year, 924,000 were kept waiting for longer than the target of 18 weeks, and 297,000 waited for at least six months. Many of these were elderly patients who are awaiting hip replacements, left immobile and reliant on relatives and carers in order to leave their homes.
Experts have said that the long waits are extremely distressing for patients, with some having to endure considerable pain.
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in Medical negligence compensation claims, and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/Medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our Medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.
Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 028 2969
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