SHOCKING STATISTICS ON PATIENT SAFETY -- BRAKE

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 15th Mar 2005

In light of figures published in the February edition of Patient Voice by the Patients Association, Mr Brake has raised concerns with the Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust about patient safety.

Mr Brake said,

"According to the Patients Association an estimated 40,000 patients die each year as a result of patient safety incidents - including medication errors, treatment errors and hospital infections. This would translate into 63 deaths a year in the Carshalton and Wallington area as a result of patient safety incidents."

Tom Brake added,

"Clearly local people have a right to know the number of fatal patient safety incidents and what measures are taken to improve patient safety."

He has written to the Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust asking them to confirm what records are kept of such errors and what measures are being taken to reduce the risk of errors.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

The Patients Association published an article about patient safety in the February edition of Patient Voice, Issue 24. The article stated,

"Nationwide, patient safety incidents - including medication errors treatment errors and hospital infections account for the deaths of an estimated 40,000 patients a year (equivalent to 11 deaths a day). Daily they account for more deaths than both road traffic accidents and accidents in the workplace."

63 deaths based on total UK population of 59,6m and Carshalton and Wallington population of approx. 94,000.