NHS tolerance of sheer carelessness over patient care leads to high incidence of medical errors/negligence and unnecessary suffering for patients

The Sunday Telegraph reports on "a catalogue of medical mistakes".

The reported blunders are just the tip of the iceberg. Most 'untoward incidents' are covered up or never reported and it is rare for those responsible actually to be held accountable in any meaningful way. When there is a lack of accountability and sanctions there is of course little incentive for the carelessness and negligence to be reduced.

NHS tolerance of sheer carelessness over patient care leads to high incidence of medical errors/negligence, unnecessary suffering for patients and high costs in compensation claims.

Remember those sentences we are encouraged to associate with doctors and with the NHS?

1. First do no harm.
2. The NHS is the envy of the world.

Neither has ever been true.