Eighty patients die in hospital every day from lack of care
Around 80 people are dying every day in UK hospitals from lack of proper care – and the figures do not include the many more that die from the drugs and medical incompetence.
Dehydration, malnutrition, infections and bedsores have all been cited as direct or indirect causes of deaths among patients in UK hospitals in 2010, according to the latest figures.
Overall, around 25,343 people died from causes related to poor care while in hospital during the year, while 2,121 died from blood poisoning, usually because of an infected wound, and 218 died from bedsores. Many of the other patients had bedsores, although they did not die from them.
A further 25 patients died each week from dehydration or malnutrition while in hospital during 2010.
The figures represent a 50 per cent increase over the past decade.
(Source: Office for National Statistics).