Scientists say anti-depressants work, and more people should be offered them

A recent study published by Lancet says that anti-depressants work, and its believed more than a million extra people should be offered them.

Results from the studies found that all common anti-depressants were more effective than the placebos offered.

There is, however, a reported reluctance to prescribe them, and many people feel that taking pills for low mood problems are a last resort. Will the new studies serve to allay doctors’ concerns about over-prescribing medication?
Read More

Patients put at risk due to ambulance delays because their stuck in overcrowded A&E departments

The delay for ambulance crews being able to hand patients over to hospitals in overcrowded A&E departments is said to be putting lives at risk.

With NHS figures indicating that almost 150,000 patients were cared for by ambulance crews for over half an hour over winter, from either being stuck in the back of an ambulance or in hospital corridors, crews are caught at hospital when they could be out on the road and ready to help people.

For every ambulance crew stuck at hospital looking after a patient because the A&E department is unable to take them as a result of overcrowding, there is a patient at home waiting for an ambulance that may not arrive in time.
Read More

UK Cancer care criticised as survival rates fall short

The UK has reportedly failed to adequately improve on cancer survival rates, according to a global study. Potentially thousands of people are dying as a result of inadequate care when compared to other wealthy countries who are said to be improving at a better rate, leaving Britain behind.

Although survival rates have improved, the UK is falling behind when compared to similar nations.

With patients in Britain said to still be dying earlier when compared with other countries, it seems like we have cause for concern.
Read More

Doctors concerned people addicted to prescription drugs may not be receiving enough help

America is currently suffering with what is widely reported as an “opioid crisis” off the back of what some have alleged is a simple case of over-prescribing medications to patients for an array of ailments that can be treatable by other means. In the UK, there are concerns that doctors are relying on prescription drugs too much to treat people with ailments or issues they could use alternative help for, and the upshot is patients getting addicted to such medication.

Whether it’s a case that the dangers of such medications need to be better explained or better controlled, or where it’s down to the need to prescribe less medication – or both – doctors are worried that the lack of help for patients hooked on drugs is putting lives at risk.
Read More

Should good standards of cancer care be made law?

Missed diagnosis claims, and claims where patients are misdiagnosed, are unfortunately common. One of the biggest problems with such incidents is where the misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis is for something as serious as cancer, where the window of opportunity for cancer care or treatment to start can be very slim.

Unfortunately, in many cancer misdiagnosis or missed cancer diagnosis cases, it’s too late for the victim by the time the error is recognised.

Because of this, some say that good quality cancer care should be introduced as law in the UK. But, will it help?
Read More

NHS pushing patient waiting times to three months may see rise in incidents, lawyers warn

New waiting times for routine operations in some parts of the country could see patients having to wait up to a minimum of three months before their procedure takes place.

Hip operations and cardiac procedures are among those that fall within the new lengthier patient waiting times, which could lead to complications arising as patients have to wait longer for treatment.

Patient waiting times average is around seven and a half weeks, but new measures introduced in Lincolnshire mean patients may be waiting almost twice as long in efforts to cut costs as lawyers warn that the new measures may see incidents increase.
Read More

Calls for people to stop using – or reduce the use of – antibiotics

The ‘Keep Antibiotics Working’ campaign is urging patients not to ask their GP or doctor for antibiotics in a bid to tackle the reported growing resistance to the medicine.

When we have an infection, antibiotic treatments can help to kill the bacteria. However, around 5,000 people reportedly die each year in England because antibiotics don’t work for some infections because they’ve grown a resistance to the medicine.

The campaign was launched by Public Health England in recognition that overuse of antibiotics – and other factors – has helped infections strengthen their resistance to the medicines.
Read More

Worldwide ransomware attack brings NHS services to a standstill

The NHS has suffered as a result of a “large-scale hack” across the globe that hit some 99 countries in total.

The malware message is demanding ransoms from hospitals! A message appearing on hospital screens says that doctors will need to cough up if they want to save their files. The big issue here is that this causes a wider problem for patients across the country as hospitals are forced to use their ‘back-up’ plans, and services are being seriously reduced.

Real people’s lives are in danger here.
Read More

Multiple medical errors at the Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust

Both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary have come under fire recently due to multiple failings found within the Trusts.

One such incident was a clear and serious error when staff at Calderdale Hospital undertook an intimate examination of the wrong patient between July and September 2016.

We all know the NHS has a tough job in tough conditions, but there are some things that are clearly preventable.
Read More

Surgical error claims for compensation

Many operations performed are successful and go without any complications. However, in some cases, mistakes are made, and a patient may have to deal with the adverse consequences.

Having surgery can already be very stressful, so to discover afterwards that something went wrong can be even more distressing; especially if this is going to affect the person’s life.

Surgical errors can happen for a number of reasons, and where they have taken place due to negligence, you may be able to claim for compensation.
Read More

Appendicitis Misdiagnosis & Negligent Compensation Claims

Appendicitis is where the appendix becomes inflamed and painful. If appendicitis is not treated, the appendix can burst, which can be life threatening. Appendicitis can be caused by a blockage which can then cause the appendix to become inflamed and lead to ruptures.

In order to treat appendicitis, the patient will normally need to undergo an operation to remove the appendix. Appendicitis needs to be spotted and treated quickly to reduce further complications that can be life threatening.

But what happens if something goes wrong with your treatment or diagnosis, and this causes significant medical problems?
Read More

Pharmacy mistakenly prescribes schizophrenia medication to 60-year-old Mum

A west Yorkshire mum was mistakenly given medication to treat schizophrenia instead of medication to treat restless leg syndrome that she had sought medical advice for.

M Manning Pharmacy in Leeds gave the 60-year-old Mum the anti-psychotic drug risperidone which she unknowingly took for more than a month before the error was spotted. Upon contacting the pharmacy she was advised to refrain from taking any further doses of the medication and instructed to seek medical attention.
Read More