One third of deaths in the UK could have been avoided
- Jun 6, 2016
- EmmaArnold
New statistics suggest one third of all deaths in 2013 of those under 75 were potentially avoidable in the UK.
Eurostat figures show that over 34% of all deaths in the UK (63,442 people under 75) could have been avoided is there had been "timely and effective health care in place."
The Patients Association explained how these figures match the stories of patients calling their helpline expressing their frustration with the NHS.
Hannah Bottomley, clinical negligence solicitor at PotterReesDolan, said:
This study suggests that one third of all deaths which occurred in the under 75s could have been avoided with prompt access to hospitals and refers to the timescales involved in accessing such care and appointments.
This is something which we often find is a cause for so many problems which patients have. It is well recognised that with prompt diagnosis and treatment patients with all sorts of conditions have better outcomes.
Delays in diagnosis and accessing appropriate treatment affect patients across the board and I hope that by better recognition of the issues, such delays decrease and the avoidable death rate also decreases so no one has to go through the trauma of losing a family member when that death could have been prevented.
The report analysed figures across the EU which found the most common cause of death was heart attacks (32%) followed by strokes (16%).
If you think a death of a loved one through the NHS was avoidable then please read our dedicated page on the subject or give us a call on 0800 027 2557.