Operating on the wrong part of a body and leaving behind utensils are some of the things behind a soaring UK hospital insurance bill, according to a Sunday Express report.
Medical mishaps and lack of care in UK hospitals have contributed to a recent increase in insurance figures. Injuries happening after being admitted to hospital and complications after surgeries were two main issues of concern, costing almost £4 million in compensation in 2011.
Tameside NHS Trust last year exceeded it’s £2.7 million insurance premium by 10% because of a “catalogue of expensive settlements”, the Express said.
Over the past three years patients injured at the hospital were given £20 million in compensation. The hospital blamed this figures on a lack of funds, equipment and staff.
According to the Express there were 14,000 instances of problems after operations last year. Surgeons operated on the wrong part of the patient’s body on at least 57 occasions while a foreign object was left in patients 125 times.
This and a high mortality rate cost hospitals £3.9 million in compensation in 2011.
When contacted, the hospitals defended their reputations saying the figures don’t give an accurate reflection of their patient care, Express reported.
Tameside Hospital said it has now improved standards. “The trust has been awarded the best rating possible by the NHS Litigation Authority,” a spokesman said.
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals said, “Our current position is improved” adding that it provided a “safe level of care”. Blackpool Hospitals NHS Trust said the data did not give a true reflection of patient care. University Hospital of North Staffordshire said: “We believe University Hospital is a safe hospital.”
Dartford and Gravesham hospital said the figures don’t tell the full story and NHS Isle of Wight said strenuous efforts had been made to monitor the quality of care.
