Address variations in care now for 'forgotten' patients, surgeons tell Trusts

The NHS must address the significant variations in care experienced by the 170,000 patients who have major emergency abdominal surgery each year, says a new report published by the Royal College of Surgeons. Poorly designed hospital services, particularly access to emergency operating theatres and radiology treatment, are among the problems highlighted. This results in patients missing out on early diagnosis and rapid life-saving care. In addition, there is a general lack of appreciation of the level of risk in emergency surgical patients - where death rates of 15 to 20 per cent are typical, and can be as high as 40 per cent in the most elderly patients. Surgeons say this imminent risk of death is not being reflected in the priority given to these patients whose chances of survival can more than double, depending on which NHS hospital they are treated in.

More...

News from The Operating Theatre Journal

Jobs from Operating Theatre Jobs dotcom