Many 'driven' to treatment abroad
Avoiding infections such as MRSA and NHS waiting lists are driving people abroad for medical treatment, according to a poll.
A survey of 648 patients who had treatments overseas found that 83% also wanted to save money on the cost of private procedures in the UK.
Most (97%) had a good experience and would be willing to go abroad for treatment again.
Saving cash was the main motivating factor, but 63% of those having elective procedures wanted to avoid NHS waiting lists while 56% were worried about infections like MRSA.
The poll was carried out for the website www.treatmentabroad.com, which estimated that 100,000 people travelled abroad for surgery and dental treatment in 2007.
Around 6% of those questioned for the survey had spent more than £10,000 on treatment.
Nine out of 10 (92%) of cosmetic surgery patients were women, while 69% of those having elective surgery and scans were men.
More than half of people choosing to have treatment abroad were aged between 40 and 59.
The top destinations for treatment include Hungary, mostly for dental treatment, Cyprus for cosmetic surgery, and India for surgery and scans.
Spain, Belgium and the Czech Republic were also among the most popular destinations, according to the poll.
Sorce: The Press Association
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Dramatic rise in C. diff deaths
Tackling hospital infections is a top government priority
The number of deaths linked to hospital bug Clostridium difficile has soared in England and Wales, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
Between 2005 and 2006 the number of death certificates which mentioned the infection rose by 72% to 6,480, most of which were elderly people.
In over half of cases, it was listed as the underlying cause of death.
It is thought that some of the increase may be due to more complete reporting on death certificates.
Deaths involving C. difficile increased by 77% in men, and 66% in women between 2005 and 2006.
Since 2006 we have taken significant steps to tackle infections
Professor Brian Duerden, Department of Health
Rates in both sexes have gone up dramatically since 2001, when there were only 1,200 mentions of the infection on death certificates.
The ONS figures also showed deaths involving MRSA remained roughly the same between 2005 and 2006 - at around 1,650.
C. difficile usually affects the elderly, and can prove fatal if antibiotic treatment fails to kill all the spores in the gut, and they take hold again before the patient's own gut bacteria have had chance to mount a resistance.
It is also very difficult to eradicate from the ward environment, which means it is easy for other patients to become infected.
Better reporting
Professor Brian Duerden, chief microbiologist at the Department of Health, said in July 2005 they called for more accurate reporting of infections such as MRSA and C. difficile on death certificates.
"These statistics from 2006 show that this move has worked and our figures are now in line with other developed countries.
"Since 2006 we have taken significant steps to tackle infections.
"These include stringent hand-washing guidance for the NHS, a bare below the elbows dress code, putting matrons back in charge of cleanliness on their wards and an ongoing deep clean of every ward."
And he added hospital infection rates were now falling.
The Health Protection Agency reported in November 2007 that rates of C. difficile infection may be levelling off with the number of new cases down 7% to 13,660, while MRSA cases are falling.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These figures beg the question of why it took so long for the government to realise the seriousness of deadly infections such as C. difficile.
"Recent successes in keeping infection rates down are down to the hard work of NHS staff, who are up against enormous pressure to hit targets while keeping their wards infection-free."
Shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, said: "Almost three times as many people are now killed by hospital infections as are killed on the roads each year.
"The overall scale of infection is unacceptable and the need for a comprehensive infection control strategy, including improved antibiotic prescribing and access to isolation facilities, hand hygiene and cleanliness is paramount."
He added: "An expert told the Department of Health last week that it was the government's failure to implement guidelines since as far back as 1994 that has contributed to the recent rise."
Source: BBC News
The number of deaths linked to hospital bug Clostridium difficile has soared in England and Wales, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
Between 2005 and 2006 the number of death certificates which mentioned the infection rose by 72% to 6,480, most of which were elderly people.
In over half of cases, it was listed as the underlying cause of death.
It is thought that some of the increase may be due to more complete reporting on death certificates.
Deaths involving C. difficile increased by 77% in men, and 66% in women between 2005 and 2006.
Since 2006 we have taken significant steps to tackle infections
Professor Brian Duerden, Department of Health
Rates in both sexes have gone up dramatically since 2001, when there were only 1,200 mentions of the infection on death certificates.
The ONS figures also showed deaths involving MRSA remained roughly the same between 2005 and 2006 - at around 1,650.
C. difficile usually affects the elderly, and can prove fatal if antibiotic treatment fails to kill all the spores in the gut, and they take hold again before the patient's own gut bacteria have had chance to mount a resistance.
It is also very difficult to eradicate from the ward environment, which means it is easy for other patients to become infected.
Better reporting
Professor Brian Duerden, chief microbiologist at the Department of Health, said in July 2005 they called for more accurate reporting of infections such as MRSA and C. difficile on death certificates.
"These statistics from 2006 show that this move has worked and our figures are now in line with other developed countries.
"Since 2006 we have taken significant steps to tackle infections.
"These include stringent hand-washing guidance for the NHS, a bare below the elbows dress code, putting matrons back in charge of cleanliness on their wards and an ongoing deep clean of every ward."
And he added hospital infection rates were now falling.
The Health Protection Agency reported in November 2007 that rates of C. difficile infection may be levelling off with the number of new cases down 7% to 13,660, while MRSA cases are falling.
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These figures beg the question of why it took so long for the government to realise the seriousness of deadly infections such as C. difficile.
"Recent successes in keeping infection rates down are down to the hard work of NHS staff, who are up against enormous pressure to hit targets while keeping their wards infection-free."
Shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, said: "Almost three times as many people are now killed by hospital infections as are killed on the roads each year.
"The overall scale of infection is unacceptable and the need for a comprehensive infection control strategy, including improved antibiotic prescribing and access to isolation facilities, hand hygiene and cleanliness is paramount."
He added: "An expert told the Department of Health last week that it was the government's failure to implement guidelines since as far back as 1994 that has contributed to the recent rise."
Source: BBC News
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Clostridium Difficile Compensation
Claiming Clostridium Difficile Compensation is now perfectly possible with help from our specialist panel of solicitors. Our friendly and efficient legal professionals can advise you on every aspect of making a Clostridium Difficile Compensation claim from initial preparation all the way through to you receiving your cheque.
Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of making a claim for Clostridium Difficile Compensation. If you have been effected, and someone’s negligence contributed to your suffering, then you are perfectly entitled to make a claim. It is your absolute right.
Don’t put it off. There is absolutely no obligation from contacting us. We will have an informal chat were we can confirm that you have a valid case. Then, if you wish us to proceed on your behalf, we will put in motion your claim for Clostridium Difficile Compensation.
We will be with you every step of the way. Contact us now to make a claim for Clostridium Difficile Compensation.
Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of making a claim for Clostridium Difficile Compensation. If you have been effected, and someone’s negligence contributed to your suffering, then you are perfectly entitled to make a claim. It is your absolute right.
Don’t put it off. There is absolutely no obligation from contacting us. We will have an informal chat were we can confirm that you have a valid case. Then, if you wish us to proceed on your behalf, we will put in motion your claim for Clostridium Difficile Compensation.
We will be with you every step of the way. Contact us now to make a claim for Clostridium Difficile Compensation.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
MRSA Compensation
MRSA compensation was, in the past, very difficult to win and the number of successful MRSA compensation claims were relatively few. Recently though the tide has changed in favour of the sufferer as more and more information relating to MRSA is made available to the public.
The basis for winning a claim for MRSA compensation is to prove that the infection was contracted due to negligence or carelessness by hospital staff or, alternatively, that the infection was not treated in expedient manner once the hospital became aware of the infection.
The more successful MRSA compensation claims tend to be based on the fact that the infection, once contracted, was not treated quickly or efficiently by the hospital involved.
But, a change in tactics adopted by solicitors in fighting MRSA compensation claims on behalf of their clients has seen many new cases won. Because it has always been difficult to pinpoint the exact time that a patient contracted MRSA, claims have been very difficult to prove.
However, many solicitors are now making use of government health and safety legislation to prove that hospitals were negligent. This has meant many more successful MRSA compensation claims being made in UK courts.
Speaking recently a government advisor said: "I think this presents the best route for people to pursue the NHS. "They have traditionally been very hard to proceed with, but lawyers seem to have come up with a way of moving forward with them."
MRSA effects thousands of people every year but because of the previous difficulty in being able to specifically pinpoint when a patient contracted the infection hospitals were largely safe from MRSA compensation claims which were usually based on the traditional clinical negligence argument.
But the new approach of making claims based on industrial legislation is finally opening up channels of complaint which were previously closed to the thousands of people effected by the so called MRSA superbug.
Under the legislation known as Control of Substances Harmful to Health (COSHH) employers are required to control exposure to hazardous substances to prevent ill health. This, the solicitors now say, should apply directly to hospitals when assessing possible MRSA compensation claims.
While some will still contend that hospitals should not have to worry about having to face court cases there can be little doubt that the many thousands of patients who contracted MRSA whilst in the care of the NHS do deserve recompense and a means by which they can take their legitimate complaints forward.
Claims for MRSA compensation have rocketed in the last year. If you, or someone you know has been effected by the MRSA superbug, and would like some free legal advice on how to go about claiming compensation please follow the link to our main website - MRSA compensation claims.
The basis for winning a claim for MRSA compensation is to prove that the infection was contracted due to negligence or carelessness by hospital staff or, alternatively, that the infection was not treated in expedient manner once the hospital became aware of the infection.
The more successful MRSA compensation claims tend to be based on the fact that the infection, once contracted, was not treated quickly or efficiently by the hospital involved.
But, a change in tactics adopted by solicitors in fighting MRSA compensation claims on behalf of their clients has seen many new cases won. Because it has always been difficult to pinpoint the exact time that a patient contracted MRSA, claims have been very difficult to prove.
However, many solicitors are now making use of government health and safety legislation to prove that hospitals were negligent. This has meant many more successful MRSA compensation claims being made in UK courts.
Speaking recently a government advisor said: "I think this presents the best route for people to pursue the NHS. "They have traditionally been very hard to proceed with, but lawyers seem to have come up with a way of moving forward with them."
MRSA effects thousands of people every year but because of the previous difficulty in being able to specifically pinpoint when a patient contracted the infection hospitals were largely safe from MRSA compensation claims which were usually based on the traditional clinical negligence argument.
But the new approach of making claims based on industrial legislation is finally opening up channels of complaint which were previously closed to the thousands of people effected by the so called MRSA superbug.
Under the legislation known as Control of Substances Harmful to Health (COSHH) employers are required to control exposure to hazardous substances to prevent ill health. This, the solicitors now say, should apply directly to hospitals when assessing possible MRSA compensation claims.
While some will still contend that hospitals should not have to worry about having to face court cases there can be little doubt that the many thousands of patients who contracted MRSA whilst in the care of the NHS do deserve recompense and a means by which they can take their legitimate complaints forward.
Claims for MRSA compensation have rocketed in the last year. If you, or someone you know has been effected by the MRSA superbug, and would like some free legal advice on how to go about claiming compensation please follow the link to our main website - MRSA compensation claims.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Why Does A C.Diff Infection Spread?
Unfortunately, a C.Diff Infection can spread very quickly and it is not easily killed by cleaning agents that most hospitals will use. C.diff forms spores which infected people can transfer by contact with each other and surfaces and those spores can live for up to five months.
It is because of the high degree of infection that c.diff poses such a threat to hospitals and the patients in their care.
How A C.Diff Infection Can Be Treated
The unfortunate truth about a C.diff Infection is that it is very hard to treat and treatment can last for several months. The evolvement of a new and more viral strain of c.diff which is resistant to treatment can be fatal and it is this strain of the disease which is proving so difficult for our hospitals to control.
Some antibiotics can be used in the treatment of a C.diff Infection including Flagyl. Flagyl is the most common treatment and is usually taken in tablet form and is a Metronidazole is used to treat bacterial or protozoal infections.
Vancomycin is a stronger drug than Flagyl and is used to try and combat the more serious strains of C.Diff Infection. Taken orally Vancomycin is a parenteral glycopeptide antibiotic and is a drug which has recently been improved during the manufacturing process to increase its purity and effectiveness against the stronger strains of c.diff.
Can A C.diff Infection Be Prevented
Surprisingly simply washing hands is the best way to prevent the spread of a C.diff Infection although the usual alcohol based hand cleansers are not effective in preventing the spread of c.diff.
For more information visit cdiff-compensation.co.uk
It is because of the high degree of infection that c.diff poses such a threat to hospitals and the patients in their care.
How A C.Diff Infection Can Be Treated
The unfortunate truth about a C.diff Infection is that it is very hard to treat and treatment can last for several months. The evolvement of a new and more viral strain of c.diff which is resistant to treatment can be fatal and it is this strain of the disease which is proving so difficult for our hospitals to control.
Some antibiotics can be used in the treatment of a C.diff Infection including Flagyl. Flagyl is the most common treatment and is usually taken in tablet form and is a Metronidazole is used to treat bacterial or protozoal infections.
Vancomycin is a stronger drug than Flagyl and is used to try and combat the more serious strains of C.Diff Infection. Taken orally Vancomycin is a parenteral glycopeptide antibiotic and is a drug which has recently been improved during the manufacturing process to increase its purity and effectiveness against the stronger strains of c.diff.
Can A C.diff Infection Be Prevented
Surprisingly simply washing hands is the best way to prevent the spread of a C.diff Infection although the usual alcohol based hand cleansers are not effective in preventing the spread of c.diff.
For more information visit cdiff-compensation.co.uk
Sunday, November 11, 2007
How A C.Diff Infection Occurs
A C.diff Infection occurs when the c.diff micro-organism grows out of control in the gastronintestinal tract (GI).
Ordinarily this kind of micro-organism is harmless and actually helps in the digestion of food and nutrients. As such, we all have micro-organisms have them in our bodies and c.diff can be present in around 3% of healthy adults.
But, a C.Diff Infection occurs when the c.diff micro-organism begins to grow out of control resulting in severe infectious diarrhea and inflammation of the large intestine.
This can happen to hospitalised people and the presence of c.diff in hospitalised adults is ten times higher (up to 30%) than in ordinarily healthy adults.
A C.Diff Infection is by far the most common cause of diarrhea found in hospital patients.
Why Patients Are Susceptible To A C.Diff Infection
Basically, a C.Diff Infection occurs when a bodies preventative bacteria is not strong enough to stop the c.diff from outgrowing the GI tract. This happens for a number of reasons:
• A long stay in hospital. The potential for c.diff spreading in a clinical environment is very high and combined with the stress a patient will be under and the illness weakened body a hospital patient is a prime candidate for C.Diff Infection.
• Age. C.diff is an infectious disease and as in all diseases of this type the elderly are much more susceptible because their immune systems are weak, especially when hospitalised.
• Illness. Any serious or constant illness will weaken the bodies immune system and increase the risk of a C.Diff Infection.
• Antibiotics. A very real risk to a patient in a hospital environment can be posed by antibiotics. Because antibiotics can kill the bacteria which controls the growth of c.diff a patient becomes susceptible to a C.Diff Infection.
To learn more about c.diff infection and how to claim compensation if effected pleas visit our main site at www.cdiff-compensation.co.uk
Ordinarily this kind of micro-organism is harmless and actually helps in the digestion of food and nutrients. As such, we all have micro-organisms have them in our bodies and c.diff can be present in around 3% of healthy adults.
But, a C.Diff Infection occurs when the c.diff micro-organism begins to grow out of control resulting in severe infectious diarrhea and inflammation of the large intestine.
This can happen to hospitalised people and the presence of c.diff in hospitalised adults is ten times higher (up to 30%) than in ordinarily healthy adults.
A C.Diff Infection is by far the most common cause of diarrhea found in hospital patients.
Why Patients Are Susceptible To A C.Diff Infection
Basically, a C.Diff Infection occurs when a bodies preventative bacteria is not strong enough to stop the c.diff from outgrowing the GI tract. This happens for a number of reasons:
• A long stay in hospital. The potential for c.diff spreading in a clinical environment is very high and combined with the stress a patient will be under and the illness weakened body a hospital patient is a prime candidate for C.Diff Infection.
• Age. C.diff is an infectious disease and as in all diseases of this type the elderly are much more susceptible because their immune systems are weak, especially when hospitalised.
• Illness. Any serious or constant illness will weaken the bodies immune system and increase the risk of a C.Diff Infection.
• Antibiotics. A very real risk to a patient in a hospital environment can be posed by antibiotics. Because antibiotics can kill the bacteria which controls the growth of c.diff a patient becomes susceptible to a C.Diff Infection.
To learn more about c.diff infection and how to claim compensation if effected pleas visit our main site at www.cdiff-compensation.co.uk
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