New Report Highlights Issues Across Health Trusts

A medical negligence specialist at Irwin Mitchell has called for the NHS to ensure patient safety is a priority following the release of new research highlighting regional variations in the standards of care available to children.

The NHS Atlas of Variation In Health for Children and Young People report revealed concerns over the standards of care across health trusts in England, suggesting some differences may be linked to inequalities in access to care and some inappropriate clinical practice.

Medical law and patients’ rights specialists at Irwin Mitchell act for the families of youngsters who have suffered serious health problems or injury as a result of failings or errors in care.

Commenting on the report, Suzanne Munroe, a Partner and medical law expert based at national law firm Irwin Mitchell’s Sheffield office, said: “This is sadly not the first time that concerns have been raised that some patients face a postcode lottery when it comes to care.

“We act for so many families whose lives have been turned upside down as a result of serious problems which can be linked back to the standards of care that their loved ones have received, including problems with training and general failures to follow recognised guidance.

“It is vital that patient safety remains the number one priority and regional variations become a thing of the past. The NHS has a responsibility to ensure everyone who relies on its services can gain treatment which meets the required standards.”