08
Jun 2016
NHS failings blamed for 60,000 avoidable deaths every year
A report by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, which compared the 28 nations in the EU, has found that a third of Britons under the age of 75 died needlessly in 2013 and that the deaths ‘could have been avoided in the light of medical knowledge and technology’.
Professor Karol Sikora, leading oncologist and Dean of Medicine at Buckingham University, said the report highlighted Britain’s inconsistent record at fighting cancer, and warned “The NHS lacks enough capacity when it comes to fighting cancer and other serious diseases quickly.
“Access to your GP, prompt access to hospitals for tests like CT scans – these are things we just don’t do well enough compared to other Western European countries. If you have a symptom of something that might be cancer, on the Continent it gets investigated in a week. Here it can take two months. It’s just too slow. Such delays can mean the difference between life and death.”
He added “The problem is that across the UK you can get very high quality care and very poor patches of care.”
Several reports have found that cancer patients in the UK typically die earlier than patients in comparable countries. A study in 2013 showed that the five-year survival rates in Britain lagged behind the European average in nine of the ten most common cancers.
The report has also shown that early deaths from cardiovascular disease in Britain are an even bigger issue, with almost half of those 60,000 avoidable deaths being due to strokes and heart disease.
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.
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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.
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