According to the BBC, The British Social Attitudes Survey, which has been tracking satisfaction since 1983, has recorded that last year (2015) there was the biggest ever rise in public dissatisfaction with the NHS. There seems to be a real public concern in relation to waiting times in A & E, staff shortages and a worry that the NHS will not be able to adequately care or treat them if they required their services. The full article can be read at
Further recent news reports have highlighted failings of the NHS, including the story of little William Mead who passed away in 2014 from blood poisoning following a chest infection. As reported by the BBC, a report by NHS England highlighted a number of failings and lessons to be learned from William’s death, including the fact that GPs had failed to diagnose him despite William’s mother having taken him to the GP on numerous occasions in the months leading up to his death. The report had suggested that if the NHS had acted differently it is likely that William would have survived.
Other news articles have appeared in response to the concerns highlighted by William’s tragic death. The Daily Mail have reported a further case of sepsis missed in the daughter of TV actor Jason Watkins, and highlighted The Daily Mail’s campaign against the ‘Sepsis Scandal’.
There is no doubt that our NHS is under pressure not only from a funding, staffing and performance point of view, but also from the glare of the media.
Sadly, lapses in patient safety continue to happen, sometimes having devastating consequences on the patient and their families. As a firm, Brindley Twist Tafft & James LLP are currently dealing with a number of claims in relation to sepsis.
If you have experienced poor medical treatment or have a Clinical Negligence enquiry, please do not hesitate to contact us for a free no obligation initial consultation.
Nicola Godfrey-Dunne
Medical Negligence Department
About the Author
Nicola Godfrey-Dunne is a Medical Negligence solicitor at Brindley Twist Tafft & James and works on a wide variety of clinical negligence claims.