In Plymouth, the situation in accident and emergency (A&E) departments, especially at Derriford Hospital, has reached a critical level. Recent data has revealed that Plymouth has the dubious distinction of having the longest A&E waiting times in the country. Alarmingly, nearly two-thirds (65.5%) of patients visiting Type 1 A&Es in the region are forced to endure waits of over four hours. Such prolonged delays can have severe repercussions on the health outcomes and overall well-being of patients.

In the bustling emergency departments across England, a silent crisis unfolds—one that has led to more than 250 needless deaths every week. You may have seen this mentioned on BBC News this weekend. This alarming statistic, derived from a comprehensive analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), sheds light on the dire consequences of prolonged wait times in Accident and Emergency (A&E) units. This blog post delves into the heart of the issue, exploring the impact of these delays on patient safety and the healthcare system at large.

“The detriments that people experience are significant and should not be happening.” These are the chastening words of Rob Behrens, the NHS Ombudsman for England.

The medical field is constantly under pressure to maintain impeccable standards. With an increase in patient loads and varied complexities, the healthcare sector faces immense challenges.

We look into a recent case where a patient underwent surgery for a medical issue, but then issues persisted after the surgery. Was the surgeon to blame?

The Supreme Court has unanimously allowed a recent appeal and clarified the law in relation to the duty of care owed by non-medical staff in hospitals.