NHS pays through the nose for medical staff blunders

Industry news roundup: week ended 7 Oct 2013:

Medical negligence is no laughing matter – much as the NHS has learned this week after it’s been ordered to pay out on two major compensation claims.

Birth injuries are often life-changing events, and it was no different for Joseph Rea when he was born seven years ago. Little Joseph suffered severe brain damage while he was being delivered, ultimately resulting in injuries that left him with learning difficulties, mobility problems, and seizures as a result of cerebral palsy. Well, it turns out that the NHS Trust for the hospital more or less debased itself in front of Joseph’s family, offering them £2.4 million in a lump sum personal injury compensation payment and then promising additional annual payments as well – which is good news for Joseph and his family, as the young lad’s physical needs can now be met much more easily.

I don’t know what it is with doctors in the UK, but it seems like they just simply can’t get it right sometimes! In a way it’s most likely not the fault of the doctor, what with hospital work schedules so absolutely horrid, but how many times do avoidable mistakes have to occur before the NHS changes its administrative policies?

Not soon enough, apparently, considering how yet another NHS Trust ended up paying out on a claim for another baby injured in childbirth. This time it was a skull fracture and brain injury during the delivery of Yiqun Zhang that left him with severe disabilities later in life – but now the £12 million value compensation package will see to it that he gets everything he will need in order to live a comfortable life – or as much of one that he can with his injuries.

I can’t even imagine having to face such a terrible fate as a parent. You love your child unconditionally of course, but you’ve got an incredible burden as well for their lifelong care – something that you won’t be able to provide since, well let’s face it – no one lives forever. Round the clock care isn’t cheap by a long shot, you know; my hat goes off and my heart goes out to anyone and everyone in a situation where they have to provide for the special needs of their own child.

Of course we could avoid the whole tragic thing if we could just get the quality of service in NHS hospitals better than something you would find in the bin.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.

Back to Top ↑