News and Knowledge

32% of people haven’t got a Will because they ‘don’t know where to start’

After Update Your Will Week took place earlier this month to encourage people to check their Will is up to date and accurate, new figures reveal how many people still need to write or finish writing their Will.   A Will is an important document to instruct your family or friends on how you would…

Health board fined £220k after patients fell to their deaths out of hospital windows

A Scottish Health Board has been fined £220,000 for safety breaches after two vulnerable patients fell to their deaths out of a window.   Both patients were being cared for at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh at the time of their deaths, which occurred in two separate incidents. On 29 October 2017, one of…

CICA: ‘broken system’ as victims of crime are let down without legal advice

Victims of crime are being let down by the current CICA (Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority) system, as figures show that many are being under-compensated by tens of thousands of pounds.   Data from the Office for National Statistics and the Scottish government shows that approximately 480,000 people are injured as a result of violent crime…

More than 100 warning letters were sent to the NHS by Coroners in 2023

More than 100 warning letters were sent by coroners to government and health bodies in 2023, highlighting staff shortages, lack of NHS resources and long wait times, a report has found.   The figures were based on the amount of prevention of future death reports (PFDs) which are sent by coroners to NHS Trusts and…

NHS hospital admits cutting off six people’s limbs by mistake

An NHS hospital has admitted to cutting off the limbs of six people by mistake during routine operations.   York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted to the failures, which took place over a three-year period due to medical negligence. Figures show that four amputations were performed in 2020, and another two were…

Sleep apnea machines could put people at risk of cancer, research suggests

Machines to help people with Sleep apnea breathe could be putting them at risk of cancer, research suggests.   More than a dozen Philips Respironics machines which are designed to deliver pressurised air through a mask have been issued two field safety notices (FSN) to alert users that there could be a potential safety risk…

NHS Trust paid out £101 million over failings in maternity care, figures reveal

An NHS Trust has paid out £101million over more than 100 failings in maternity care, figures reveal.   Nottingham University Hospitals are currently the subject of a major inquiry as hundreds of baby deaths and injuries are being examined. The NHS Trust, which covers Nottingham City Hospital and Queen’s Medical Centre paid out £85,518,419 in damages and…

Martha’s Rule to give NHS patients urgent access to second opinion

Martha’s Rule is set to be implemented in 100 NHS hospitals in April, to allow patients to seek an urgent second opinion if they feel they are not getting the care they need.   The new legislation is to be rolled out across 100 NHS hospitals to give patients and their families round-the-clock access to…

NHS hospital admits failings which resulted in ‘avoidable’ patient death

An NHS hospital has admitted its failings of care for a patient who died in 2019 after being investigated for alleged Medical Negligence.   The investigation comes after the death of Ralph Sims, 65 who died after undergoing heart surgery at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. Mr. Sims suffered a sudden drop in blood…

Cancer waiting times at worst level on record in 2023 

A study conducted by BBC News has revealed that cancer waiting times in England during 2023 reached their worst level on record.   The figures show that only 64.1% of patients started treatment within 62 days of their suspected cancer diagnosis, leaving nearly 100,000 individuals waiting longer than expected for critical care.     This…