Those pursuing medical negligence claims in Stockport could be improving health services, according to a new report that shows revealing problems can lead to better services.
This has been highlighted in a case that saw a medical negligence case brought against a hospital in Hull where a cancer patient died after falling off a hospital trolley.
A 61 year old patient, who was normally treated at a community hospital as she had been diagnosed with terminal ovarian and peritoneal cancer, had been admitted to Hull Royal Infirmary as she had become dehydrated.
The patient fell from a hospital trolley during her stay, which resulted in an injury that required surgery which then caused an infection that led to septicaemia. The patient sadly died as a result of this.
Following a legal case the hospital Trust offered a full apology and paid a five-figure settlement to the family, The Lawyer reported.
But the story doesn’t end there. As a result of this case the hospital has committed to identifying falls risks and working to prevent them. They have now introduced a specific falls risk assessment tool and have changed the way they care for elderly and frail patients.
Many patients are now reviewed at more frequent intervals in order to prevent an occurrence like this happening again.
These changes have been applied across many departments of the hospital and it is hoped that they will become part of the standard care that all patients can expect.