Doctors have raised the alarm about the number of dangerous incidents
of misdiagnosis in the health service after a survey revealed that doctors
are making thousands of mistakes leading to the deaths of patients.
More than 80 per cent of doctors who answered an anonymous survey,
seen by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Five Live, admitted that they had seen other doctors
make mistakes.
Doctors interviewed by Five Live suggested these could include misdiagnosis,
wrong treatment and late referrals.
Medics admitted that some of the mistakes led to the deaths or disability
of patients. But hardly any were reported.
Senior health chiefs today called for an overhaul of the system of
whistleblowing and said the Government's safety net put in place to
catch dangerous doctors was failing.
Dr Neil Bacon, Chief Executive of doctors.net.uk - an online organisation
which has a membership of around 100,000 registered doctors and which
carried out the survey - says the problem is being "brushed under the
carpet".
And he has called on the NHS to introduce a no-blame culture. He says
doctors are reluctant to report on their colleagues and he wasn't surprised
at the mistrust across the profession for the current safeguards.
More than 2,500 doctors replied to the survey. They were asked if they
had seen dangerous practices at work and what action they had taken
as a result.
The survey also revealed that 97 per cent of doctors believe a confidential
system of hazard reporting would improve patient care.
A full report on this story will be broadcast on Five Live on 909 &
693 AM and on digital radio and television from 7.00am on Sunday 27
June.
Printable version