Despite the Department Of Health claims that they have put in place the “biggest ever expansion of training places” for doctors and nurses in the NHS, a report by NHS Providers suggests that demand for services continues to outstrip supply.

Whilst NHS staff numbers have increased by 6% in the last 3 years, demand for services has increased at a much higher rate.  By way of example, the demand for diagnostic tests has increased by 19%; GP referrals by 11%; calls for ambulances by 15% and emergency admissions by 10%.

Saffron Cordery of NHS Providers highlighted their concerns about staffing levels when she advised that the pressure on frontline services meant that they are now “working on the edge of safe services”.

Another consequence of the increased demand on NHS services appears to be a vast increase in the NHS budget being spent on outsourcing.  In a recent report the Health Foundation revealed that almost half of the £2bn of additional funding the NHS received between 2015 and 2016 was spent on outsourcing care to external contractors. This prompted the Shadow Health Secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, to express his concern that  funding was being diverted to the private sector when front line services are in “desperate need of increased funding.”

Moosa-Duke Solicitors are keen to see that patient safety in not compromised by any shortfall in funding for frontline services.

Moosa-Duke Solicitors are specialists in all aspects of clinical negligence matters and have a specialist experience of dealing with claims involving negligence in both NHS and private services.

If you have concerns regarding the care or treatment that you have received, please contact us on 0116 254 7456 for a no obligation conversation.