Fear of hospital-acquired infections is driving NHS patients abroad for treatment

Superbug fear drives NHS patients abroad

Extract from the Evening Standard:

"Record numbers of Londoners are abandoning the NHS and travelling abroad for medical treatment.

About 22,000 people in the capital went overseas for surgery and dental treatment last year - a rise of nearly a quarter on 2006.

Fear over infection from superbugs is now a major reason for them opting to go private instead of receiving treatment on the NHS.

More than half of surgery patients said they were worried about contracting an infection such as MRSA in a British hospital. This comes a day after the Evening Standard revealed more than nine patients a week are dying from hospital acquired infections.

The findings are published today by research group Treatment Abroad from its international medical tourist survey.

Its report also highlights a growing lack of confidence in the NHS - nearly two thirds opted for overseas operations to avoid NHS waiting lists.

An estimated 100,000 people from Britain travelled abroad for surgery and dental treatment last year, including fertility treatment, knee operations and cosmetic surgery. This compares with 70,000 in 2006."

Victims of drug trial get ready to sue U.S. firm for millions

Victims of drug trial get ready to sue U.S firm for millions - Evening Standard article

Extracts:

"A legal letter, obtained by the Evening Standard newspaper, shows that if a deal is not on offer by Monday - the eve of the first anniversary of the test - writs will be issued, prompting a legal battle worth millions of pounds.

Six men suffered organ failure caused by a drug that had never previously been tested on humans. One of the volunteers was described as looking like the Elephant Man following the trial at a private clinic at Northwick Park Hospital in northwest London.

The men spent several weeks in hospital including the worst affected Ryan Wilson, 21, a trainee plumber from Islington, who has since had several toes and fingers amputated. "

"The letter sent to lawyers acting for Parexel, the US firm that carried out the tests on behalf of a German pharmaceutical company, states: "Our clients are champing at the bit for proceedings to commence.

With the anniversary of the trial coming up in a few days time they very fairly take the view that as Parexel has failed to come up with any sort of proposal over the last 12 months, it is highly unlikely your client will do so now.

However, we have persuaded them to give your client one final opportunity to come forward with a proposal that they are likely to find acceptable.

We write to put you on notice that if we do not receive this proposal by close of business-on the 365th day after the trial ie 12 March 2007 we are instructed to issue proceedings." "