Sir Keogh’s Report: Poor treatment and needless deaths at 14 NHS Trusts – medical negligence?

Last week Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, the NHS’s medical director, published his report on the review into the quality of care and treatment provided by 14 hospital trusts in England. The findings have been appalling, although are unfortunately not surprising to me.

The 14 NHS Trusts investigated were those with the highest death rates over the past two years. An investigation was requested in February 2013 following Robert Francis QC’s injury into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust scandal.

The 14 NHS trusts investigated by Sir Bruce Keogh were:

1. Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

2. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

3. Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

4. Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

5. Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust

6. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

7. George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

8. Medway NHS Foundation Trust

9. North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust

10. Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

11. Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust

12. Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

13. The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust

14. United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust

Sir Keogh’s report details criticisms for each NHS Trust but the overall findings are that failings are continuing to occur resulting in significant injuries including deaths which could be avoided. Up to 13,000 “needless” patient deaths since 2005 were identified between all 14 NHS Trusts.The findings of the report were so alarming that 11 out of the 14 NHS Trusts have been placed in ‘special measures’, meaning that their failures have been so significant that they will require serious monitoring, including a team of external experts to advise their senior management, in order to improve their practices.

If you have concerns about the treatment which you have received at a hospital in England or Wales, I would be happy to advise you on making a claim for compensation for medical negligence. Please contact me on 0207 288 4849 or ipektugcu@boltburdonkemp.co.uk to discuss the matter with no obligation and free of charge.