20% of NHS hospitals are 'covering up mistakes'

Based on new data, one in five hospitals could be covering up serious mistakes or under-reporting safety incidents resulting in unnecessary deaths.

17:05 24 June 2014

The government has warned that one in five hospital trusts may be covering up serious mistakes that have resulted in unnecessary deaths. 

 

The warning comes as ministers launched a new website that patients can use to compare hospital safety records. The website, which was officially launched this week, will show safety incidents admitted by hospitals. 

 

One study says that mistakes result in 12,000 deaths in England each year. 

 

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that the campaign called “Sign Up To Safety” could save as many as 6,000 lives a year and can help reduce costs. 

 

Mr Hunt said: "The NHS is leading the world in achieving new safety standards but the battle to reduce avoidable harm is constant.

 

"Unsafe care causes immeasurable harm to patients and their families and also costs the NHS millions in litigation claims."

 

Sir David Dalton, the chief executive of Salford Royal hospital who is leading the safety campaign, added: "Healthcare carries inherent risk and while healthcare professionals work hard every day to reduce this risk every day, harm still happens.

 

"Some is unavoidable but most isn't.

 

"Sign Up To Safety seeks to reduce this harm and is a unique opportunity for us all to work together to listen, learn and act to make a difference."