Care Quality Commission report indicates NHS staff shortages are putting patients at risk

A Care Quality Commission report has warned that a number of accident & emergency units and maternity units have such a shortage of staff that patients are being put at risk of danger.

The report also found that care in many hospitals is still inadequate, despite the previous Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust scandal.

CQC inspectors also discovered failures in safety measures and shortages of hospital beds being a problem, with patients being reported as having to lie on trollies in hospital corridors while waiting on a bed.

Some children were even being admitted to wards for adult patients, rather than paediatric wards and there were insufficient numbers of staff caring for patients on night shifts.

It was also reported that people were having to wait longer for treatment.

The CQC also reported that, while a lot of the NHS care is excellent, the discrepancy in the quality and safety of care in England is too wide and is also unacceptable.

In some hospitals some parts of the care can be excellent, while others are insufficient.

Shockingly, the CQC rated 79% of the hospitals inspected as requiring improvement or inadequate for safety in at least one area of care assessed, such as accident & emergency, child birth and surgery.

As Clinical Negligence Lawyers, we at Chadwick Lawrence are concerned that these reported failures are putting patients at risk of injury.

Our specialist claimant Medical negligence solicitors at Chadwick Lawrence have a wealth of expertise in dealing with clinical negligence claims relating to injuries sustained due to medical errors by doctors, nurses, midwives and other healthcare practitioners. If you believe that you or a loved one may have been injured as a result of Medical negligence, please contact our specialist Medical negligence lawyers on the freephone number below for free legal advice.

Article by:
Jacqueline Vance Associate and medical/clinical negligence Solicitor in Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Leeds and West Yorkshire. Jacqueline can be contacted by email on jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk

FOR FREE LEGAL ADVICE CALL AND SPEAK TO OUR MEDICAL/CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE SOLICITORS ON FREEPHONE 0800 028 2969.