Lawyer Reacts To Reports On Cuts

Patient safety must remain at the top of the agenda for the NHS as it looks to make efficiency savings, a leading medical negligence lawyer has claimed.

Mandy Luckman of Irwin Mitchell responded after reports suggested that the healthcare organisation will see its budget ring-fenced by chancellor George Osborne in his spending review.

However, it is thought that the service has been set a target of making a number of efficiency savings in the next few months, with some suggestions hinting that its operations could be reduced by a fifth.

Mandy Luckman, who has a wealth of experience in cases of clinical negligence, said: “It is unfortunate that the spending review is likely to hit a lot of public services hard, but it is vital that any cuts do not lead to a fall in standards.

“Patient safety must remain of paramount concern for all staff in the NHS”.

“So many of the cases I have dealt with have shown the devastating impact that avoidable errors in treatment can have. I urge authorities to bear this in mind as efficiency savings are considered.”