The BBC has recently reported that the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, will announce new measures designed to both improve patient safety and protect doctors.

These new measures have emerged after Dr Hadiza Bawa-Garba was struck off after being found guilty of mistakes contributing to the death of a six-year old boy who died from sepsis.

Dr Bawa-Garba was removed from the medical register following a High Court Appeal, but the GMC raised concerns that this decision was “not sufficient to protect the public’”.

Mr Hunt said:

“When something goes tragically wrong in healthcare, the best apology to grieving families is to guarantee that no-one will experience that same heartache again…”

“I was deeply concerned about the unintended chilling effect on clinicians’ ability to learn from mistakes following recent court rulings… the actions from this authoritative review will help us promise them that the NHS will support them to learn, rather than seek to blame.”

The British Medical Association Council chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, stated that the NHS needs a dramatic shift away from its current culture of blame.

The new measures being introduced include the investigation of every hospital death by a medical examiner or coroner; collecting data on doctors’ performance to allow them to see how they compare to others doctors to enable them to improve, and no longer allowing the GMC to appeal against the findings of doctors’ disciplinary hearings.

We at Moosa-Duke Solicitors welcome changes to improve patient safety. We are specialists in clinical negligence. If you believe that you or a family member have been a victim of negligence, both privately or under the NHS, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0116 254 7456, so we can advise you further.