Derriford hospital backlog
It is reported that Derriford Hospital in Plymouth has over 100,000 patients awaiting follow-up appointments. No less than 36,000 patients are in breach of their āsee-by dateā. 5,000 have been classified as āhigh riskā or ātime criticalā.
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has been fined more than £1-million for failing to meet follow-up targets. Derriford Hospital is planning to write letters of apology to patients caught in the backlog including those who have been waiting for more than a year.
Medical Negligence specialist, Oliver Thorne, who is based in our Barnstaple office, has said:
“This is a worrying report, especially for those āhigh riskā patients and cancer sufferers where time is often of the essence. Living in North Devon, we rely on the countyās bigger hospitals like Derriford Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to provide us with specialist medical services, so todayās news is very concerning, not only for those living in Plymouth but across the county.”
Oliver is a highly experienced medical negligence lawyer and has dealt with many clinical negligence claims against Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and other Trusts around the country.