Doctors in the UK don't report mistakes, they don't trust the NHS to manage a blame free system

Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 27 Jun 2004 - 15:00 PDT

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According to a survey carried out by Doctors Net UK, only 15% of medical errors which could have led to death or serious disability are being reported. Amazingly, they found that more than 80% of doctors have actually seen other doctors make mistakes, they were also concerned about the care being provided by colleagues and did nothing about it (did not report it).

Doctors will be able to report errors and concerns anonymously later on this year. The National Patient Safety Agency is setting up a reporting system across the NHS. Doctors will be able to report errors without being identified.

Doctors.net.uk carried out a survey in which 2,500 doctors responded. The majority view, according to this survey, is that doctors would prefer to log an error in an independent internet site.

81% said they did not report errors because they did not trust their NHS Trust. They said the Trust would not be impartial enough to manage a blame-free system (for reporting errors). They said the same of the UK Department of Health.

Dr Neil Bacon, of Doctors.net.uk said "Existing systems are not trusted by doctors. It's meant to be confidential but the culture of no blame isn't a reality in the NHS. It's used as a witch-hunt. At the moment we have no way of learning as doctors from each other. Effectively, we are all working in the dark�.. Doctors across the UK have shown a remarkable honesty and frankness about the scale of the problem and a demand that things change for the benefit of their patients."

Dr. Bacon said a system used by airline pilots, where any report logged was completely anonymous, would be much more successful. The system would have to be a confidential one, on the web, he added.