Doctors Highlight Concerns Over Standards

The findings of a new poll of GPs which has raised concerns over the quality of care available through the NHS in recent years must not go unnoticed, a clinical negligence specialist at Irwin Mitchell has warned.

Research by Pulse magazine revealed that 45 per cent of doctors believe that the level of NHS care has worsened over the past five years, with less than a fifth stating that an improvement has been seen.

The figures have come several days after a study by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy suggested that nearly nine out of ten of its members feel care standards would fall following the introduction of the government’s reforms.

Medical law and patients’ rights experts at Irwin Mitchell regularly provide advice and support to those who have suffered injury or illness as a result of substandard care by the NHS.

Commenting on both pieces of research, Mandy Luckman, a Partner and clinical negligence specialist at Irwin Mitchell, said: “It is incredibly concerning to see that such a high number of GPs believe standards of care in the NHS have fallen in recent years.

“However, the statistic takes on an even greater significance when twinned with the CSP findings that patient care could suffer in the future as a result of reforms.

“We regularly help those who have suffered as a result of medical errors and negligence and have seen the traumatic, life-changing impact this can have on so many lives.

“Reassurances are needed that the concerns raised in this research will be addressed by both the government and the NHS, so that we do not see an increase in the number of patients who have not received the best possible standards of care.

“These warnings from those working within the healthcare sector simply cannot be ignored.”