Hospital treatment harms 1 in 10 patients
Publication Date:29/11/2007
Errors, infections and other problems mean that 1 in 10 inpatients come to harm during their stay in an NHS hospital, according to new research. If you're admitted to hospital, there are steps you can take to lower the risk of problems.
What do we know already?
People staying in hospital are likely to be seriously ill, and vulnerable to health problems. Sadly, for some hospital patients, the treatment they receive plays a part in causing these problems.
Common problems in hospital include accidents and falls, pressure sores in bedridden patients, and hospital-acquired infections, such as MRSA. Problems can also happen because of treatment, such as side effects of medicines or complications during surgery.
A new study has looked at the medical records of 1,000 people treated at an NHS hospital. Doctors and nurses checked to see how often patients had health problems or accidents during their stay. The researchers also looked at what caused the problems, and whether they could have been prevented.
What does the new study say?
Researchers found that 1 in 10 people came to harm during their stay in hospital. The figure sounds high, but studies from other parts of the world, such as Canada and New Zealand, have shown similar results, which suggests that this is a fairly typical rate of health problems for a large hospital.
It's also important to remember that many hospital inpatients are seriously ill, and likely to get more health problems whatever their doctors do. And others will be having risky procedures for life-threatening conditions. But even so, researchers think that between 2 and 3 in every 10 harmful incidents could have been avoided.
Some of the preventable problems were:
- A mistake during surgery, causing bleeding
- A delay in diagnosing a patient with cancer
- Not giving preventative medicines to a patient at risk of blood clots
- Giving high doses of a powerful painkiller for too long, causing a patient to become addicted.
On average, patients who were harmed by their treatment needed to stay in hospital for 7 or 8 days longer. About 6 in 10 people who suffered harm recovered within a month, but 1 in 10 had permanent disability.
Where does the study come from?
Most of the researchers were based at the University of York. The study appeared in a journal called Quality and Safety in Health Care, published by the BMJ.
What does this mean for me?
All medical treatment has risks as well as benefits. Everyone has the right to expect a high standard of healthcare, but it's a good idea, either before going into hospital or during your stay, to ask your doctor about possible side effects or complications. He or she can help you weigh these risks against the benefits.
Sadly, it's also true that doctors and other health professionals sometimes make mistakes. And many people staying in hospital are seriously ill or elderly, and especially vulnerable to health problems.
The study only looked at people who stayed in hospital for more than a day. It doesn't apply to visits to accident and emergency, or to people who visit a hospital for a short time, while they're having tests, for example.
What should I do now?
Obviously, we expect our doctors and other health professionals to do their best to treat us without causing us harm. But there are some simple ways of working with our doctors to guard against health problems.
For example, hand hygiene is one of the most important ways of stopping infections spreading in hospital, including superbugs such as MRSA. The cleanyourhands campaign is now in its third year, and encourages patients to ask the doctors and nurses treating them if they've washed their hands.
Finding out as much as you can about your condition and treatment is also a good way of protecting yourself. And it's a good idea to make sure doctors know which medicines you're already taking. If you're worried that you've been prescribed the wrong medicine or the wrong dose while in hospital, ask your doctor to check.
You may feel reluctant to ask questions, or even worry about looking silly. But it's better to tell someone about your concerns early on. Even if there turns out not to be a problem, at least the people treating you will be able to put your mind at rest.
If you're worried about a friend or relative being treated, you may need to talk to medical staff on their behalf. For example, if you have an elderly relative who's seriously ill, they may need your help communicating with medical staff, or remembering which medicines they're already taking.
An independent body called the Healthcare Commission carries out inspections of hospitals and publishes the reports online. You can find out about an individual hospital's standards of safety, cleanliness and care using the Healthcare Commission's website (http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk).
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) was set up in 2001 to help prevent medical errors. It looks at incidents reported by doctors and patients, and works to stop similar problems happening in future. If you or someone you know has been harmed by medical care, you can report it to the NPSA on 020 7927 9500, or by using their website (http://www.archive.npsa.nhs.uk/pleaseask).
The NPSA doesn't investigate individual complaints. If you wish to complain about poor healthcare, you can contact the hospital directly. For help making a complaint, ask to talk to the local Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS).
From:
Sari AB, Sheldon TA, Cracknell A, et al. Extent, nature and consequences of adverse events: results of a retrospective casenote review in a large NHS hospital. Quality and Safety in Health Care. 2007; 16: 434-439.
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© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
