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| NHS mistakes 'harming thousands' | NHS mistakes 'harming thousands' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 5,700 patients in England died or suffered serious harm due to errors latest figures for a six-month period show. | |
| The National Patient Safety Agency said there were 459,500 safety incidents from October 2008 to March 2009 - the highest rate since records began. | The National Patient Safety Agency said there were 459,500 safety incidents from October 2008 to March 2009 - the highest rate since records began. |
| Patient accidents were the most common problem, followed by mistakes made during treatment and with medication. | Patient accidents were the most common problem, followed by mistakes made during treatment and with medication. |
| Experts said the health service had to do more to eradicate errors. | Experts said the health service had to do more to eradicate errors. |
| The NPSA operates a voluntary reporting system whereby the onus is on hospitals, GPs and mental health units to record problems themselves. | The NPSA operates a voluntary reporting system whereby the onus is on hospitals, GPs and mental health units to record problems themselves. |
| Patients shouldn't have to face a postcode lottery on patient safety Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association | Patients shouldn't have to face a postcode lottery on patient safety Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association |
| It has meant that ever since the programme was launched in 2003 the number of mistakes being reported has been rising as more and more trusts join the scheme. | It has meant that ever since the programme was launched in 2003 the number of mistakes being reported has been rising as more and more trusts join the scheme. |
| The last six months have been no different with the overall figure representing a 12% rise on the period before. | The last six months have been no different with the overall figure representing a 12% rise on the period before. |
| The NPSA now has 382 of the 392 trusts on board. | The NPSA now has 382 of the 392 trusts on board. |
| A breakdown of the latest figures show that in two thirds of cases - 303,016 - there was no harm to the patient, while a quarter - 122,246 result in low harm, which included minor injuries from things such as falls. | |
| Another 28,521 - or 6% - resulted in moderate harm and 5,717 - 1% - in death or severe harm, which is classed as permanent injury or disability. | Another 28,521 - or 6% - resulted in moderate harm and 5,717 - 1% - in death or severe harm, which is classed as permanent injury or disability. |
| NPSA chief executive Martin Fletcher said the involvement of most trusts showed that the health service was willing to learn from its errors. | NPSA chief executive Martin Fletcher said the involvement of most trusts showed that the health service was willing to learn from its errors. |
| "This will help build an even stronger safety culture of reporting and learning to prevent harm to future patients." | "This will help build an even stronger safety culture of reporting and learning to prevent harm to future patients." |
| Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association, agreed the increasing involvement was encouraging. | Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association, agreed the increasing involvement was encouraging. |
| But she added some of the levels of mistakes being made were too high. | But she added some of the levels of mistakes being made were too high. |
| "Patients shouldn't have to face a postcode lottery on patient safety." | "Patients shouldn't have to face a postcode lottery on patient safety." |
| And Peter Walsh, of Action Against Medical Accidents, said the reporting of safety incidents should be made mandatory, adding: "Not to do so would be a travesty." | And Peter Walsh, of Action Against Medical Accidents, said the reporting of safety incidents should be made mandatory, adding: "Not to do so would be a travesty." |