Access to NHS services – how does your area perform?

The ‘NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare’ was published in September 2015 and looks at the performance of over 100 NHS services in more than 200 areas of England. The Atlas found that the levels of care for crucial conditions such as cancer and those patients receiving treatment for strokes varied hugely from region to region. For example, the time for admission to hospital for a suspected stroke – time being key in stroke treatment – varied vastly from eight out of ten patients being admitted within four hours in the best performing areas compared to just over one in three patients in the worst-performing areas. There is a similar story for cancer diagnosis, with 29.6% of patients being diagnosed when the cancer is at an early stage in the worst areas compared to 56% being diagnosed early in the best performing areas. Despite the well-known fact that the stage at which cancer is diagnosed and treatment can commence is inextricably linked to survival rates, there is still huge inconsistency in care.

Ann Houghton, specialist clinical negligence solicitor at Anthony Collins Solicitors, said

“It is very concerning to see that many patients across the country will receive sub-standard care simply because of where they live. In many areas NHS care is exemplary but budget cuts have meant that the old ‘postcode lottery’ is continuing even today. Every day I work with patients who have a worsened prognosis because of delays and oversights in their care, which often boils down to the ‘postcode lottery’. Quite simply, this is grossly unfair and unacceptable.”

At Anthony Collins Solicitors we are committed to helping people who have suffered as a result of clinical negligence. We represent many patients who have suffered because of delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment after a stroke, in addition to many other types of clinical negligence claims. We are a specialist team with in-depth knowledge in these areas and commitment to providing quality advice to our clients.

Contact Ann Houghton.

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