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Concerns raised over link between CQC ratings and ethnicity

The Royal College of GPs has called for an independent review of the link between poor Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection ratings and the ethnicity of GP partners.

The college called for the regulator to commission the work in particular for those rated “requires improvement” and “inadequate” over the past five years, including practices which have since closed down. This will assess “if there is an association between the outcomes of inspections and ethnicity or country of qualification of the GP partners”, according to the RCGP.

In addition, the RCGP wants to work with the regulator to discuss how the availability and transparency of this information can be improved to ensure minority ethnic GPs’ experiences are heard.

Minority ethnic GPs shared their experiences of CQC inspections at an RCGP council meeting last week, where council members voted to support the above actions.

Dr Howsam said: “The college’s BAME action plan commits us to delivering positive change for all our Black, Asian and minority ethnic members and we will continue to work constructively with the CQC towards an improved system of inspection that is supportive of GPs and keeps patients safe as we move away from the immediate crisis of the pandemic and into recovery.”

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Source: HSJ, 1 March 2021

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Concerns raised over former surgeon at children's hospital

Great Ormond Street Hospital has written to the families of all children treated by one of its former surgeons after concerns were raised about his practice.

Yaser Jabbar, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, has not had a licence to practise medicine in the UK since 8 January, the medical register shows.

Independent experts are now reviewing the concerns raised.

The hospital trust said the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) was asked to review its paediatric orthopaedic service following concerns raised by family members and staff.

The RCS then raised concerns about Mr Jabbar, which the trust said were being taken "incredibly seriously" and would be reviewed by independent experts from other paediatric hospitals.

A spokesman for the trust said: "We are sorry for the worry and uncertainty this may cause the families who are impacted.

"We are committed to learning from every single patient that we treat, and to being open and transparent with our families when care falls below the high standards we strive for."

The spokesperson said Mr Jabbar, reported to be an expert in limb reconstruction, no longer worked at the hospital.

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Source: BBC News, 28 February 2024

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Concerns over patient monitoring as anti-depressant use surges

Coroners have raised multiple warnings about the way a commonly-used medication is being prescribed to at-risk patients, HSJ has found.

HSJ has identified at least nine ‘prevention of future deaths’ reports issued by coroners since 2017 which highlighted the way the deceased’s prescription for sertraline was handled, with two of these issued since the start of 2023.

It comes as Open Prescribing data suggests sertraline prescriptions have increased by almost 40 per cent since 2019, which has led to concerns that GPs are struggling to meet the growing demand for follow-up checks.

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Source: HSJ, 9 August 2023

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Concerns over monitoring system used by mental health trusts

The public inquiry into the deaths of at least 2,000 people under the care of mental health services heard "grave concerns" about the use of a digital patient monitoring system.

The technology, called Oxevision, was used by half of England's mental health trusts and uses infrared sensors and cameras to monitor patients alone in their rooms, sending alerts to staff when it detects signs of distress or abnormal activity.

The Lampard Inquiry was told campaigners were concerned the technology had been overly relied upon by staff, and many patients' experiences of the technology were "intrusive, undignified, dehumanising and traumatising".

Oxevsion's manufacturer said the system played a critical role in preventing harm, but agreed filming a patient 24 hours a day could possibly "constitute a very significant invasion of privacy".

Counsel for the Lampard Inquiry, Nicolas Griffin KC, said Oxevision had proved controversial and had featured in a number of recent inquests.

These included patients Michael Nolan and Morgan Rose-Hart, who died in 2022, along with Elise Sebastian, who died in April 2021.

Elise was found unresponsive in her bedroom at the St Aubyn Centre in Colchester.

The 16-year-old was supposed to receive one-to-one care, but an inquest was told the Oxevision alert system, linked with her bedroom, was muted and she was left alone for 28 minutes.

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Source: BBC News, 14 October 2025

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Concerns over inaccurate infrared thermometers

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are warning that thermal cameras and other such “temperature screening” products, some of which make direct claims to screen for COVID-19, are not a reliable way to detect if people have the virus.

In July 2020 the Agency told manufacturers and suppliers of thermal cameras that they should not make claims which directly relate to COVID-19 diagnosis, and now are reminding businesses to follow Government advice on safe working during COVID-19.

Graeme Tunbridge, MHRA Director of Devices, said:

"Many thermal cameras and temperature screening products were originally designed for non-medical purposes, such as for building or site security. Businesses and organisations need to know that using these products for temperature screening could put people’s health at risk. These products should only be used in line with the manufacturer’s original intended use, and not to screen people for COVID-19 symptoms. They do not perform to the level required to accurately support a medical diagnosis."

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Source: BBC News, 27 July 2021

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Concerns over ‘local leadership’ helped drive doubling of whistleblowing in December

The NHS’ response to the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic saw the number of whistleblowing concerns raised with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) almost double in December, with the strength of local leadership among the most frequent complaints.

Many parts of the NHS, particularly in the South East, were suffering major covid pressures in December, and the regulator received 204 whistleblowing concerns, compared to 105 in the same month in 2019.

The most common complaints were around staffing levels, infection control and leadership.

The rise in complaints was revealed by CQC chief inspector of hospitals Ted Baker in an interview with HSJ. Professor Baker also said the pandemic had proved that the NHS’ emergency care system lacked “resilience”.

Trusts which the regulator has received concerns about in recent months have included Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust, over poor staffing levels and infection controls, University Hospitals Birmingham FT, around staffing levels and leadership concerns, and Mid and South Essex FT, over concerns around the provision of oxygen.

Professor Baker told HSJ: “One of the really positive things that has happened during the pandemic is an increase in the number of people raising concerns with us. It’s been really helpful for us in assessing the risk in the system."

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Source: HSJ, 8 February 2021

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Concerns over ‘Government’s failure’ to act on patient safety recommendations

The Government has failed to implement a number of recommendations from significant inquiries into major patient safety issues, years after they were agreed to, according to an independent panel.

The report, commissioned by the Health and Social Committee in the wake of the Lucy Letby case, voiced concerns about “delays to take real action”.

As part of its investigation, the panel selected recommendations from independent public inquiries and reviews that have been accepted by government since 2010.

Nine or more years have passed since these recommendations were accepted by the government of the day

These covered three broad policy areas – maternity safety and leadership, training of staff in health and social care, and culture of safety and whistleblowing – and were used to evaluate progress.

The panel gave the Government a rating of “requires improvement” across the policy areas. One of the recommendations was rated good.

The report said that “despite good performance in some areas” the rating “partly reflects the length of time it has taken for the Government to make progress on fully implementing four of the recommendations which were accepted nine years ago, or longer”.

“Progress is imminent in several areas, which is reassuring, but we remain concerned about the time it has taken for real action to be taken,” it added.

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Source: The Independent, 22 March 2024

Read Patient Safety Learning's response to the report:

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Concerns over ‘essential’ newborn breathing equipment at one in five hospitals

One in five recent inspections of maternity services have raised concerns over “essential” breathing equipment for newborn babies, HSJ has found. 

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors have flagged fears over shortages and overdue maintenance of resuscitaire, a device commonly used by midwives if babies require additional support with breathing. Experts say the equipment should be immediately available to ensure safe resuscitation.

The CQC itself said the lack of such equipment was impacting patient safety at some hospitals.

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Source: HSJ, 31 May 2024

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Concerns over 'enormous' backlog for NHS dentistry

Scotland's dental leaders say the backlog for patients getting NHS treatment is "enormous".

Official data shows people in more affluent areas of Scotland were much more likely to be seen by a dentist in the last two years compared to poorer communities.

Meanwhile, patients on long waiting lists are resorting to costly private treatment in order to be seen sooner.

The Scottish government said it was committed to tackling the pandemic-related backlog in routine dental care.

The shutdown of dental services in the early days of Covid, and then severe restrictions on working practices meant emergency care was prioritised in Scotland.

Denise Hesketh is one of thousands of Scots who couldn't see a dentist during the start of the pandemic.

The 58-year-old from Edinburgh has battled dental problems for years, but being unable to see a dentist during Covid meant her oral health has taken a turn for the worse.

She told BBC Scotland: "It was over a year before I was able to see a dentist and by then it just got too bad. Everything was unstable. It needn't have happened - it could have been repaired."

She now faces a bill of £20,000 for private care, with her NHS dentist unable to offer any help.

Some patients have raised fears that those who pay for private dental treatment are being prioritised.

BBC Scotland has seen an email to patients from one practice in Lanarkshire. It states "Due to NHS restrictions and waiting lists on routine care… there are other options for check-ups for adults and children to pay privately".

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Source: BBC News, 16 February 2022

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Concerns for wellbeing of babies born in lockdown

Concerns for the wellbeing of babies born in lockdown are being raised, as parents struggle to access regular support services.

England's children's commissioner is highlighting pressures facing mothers caring for babies without the usual family and state support networks.

Playgroups are closed and health visitor "visits" are being carried out remotely in most cases. The NHS said adaptations had been made to keep new mothers and babies safe.

The briefing paper from Anne Longfield's office says an estimated 76,000 babies will have been born in England under lockdown so far. But births are not being registered, because of temporary rules tied to the virus pandemic, so even basic information about new babies is not being gathered.

At the same time, support services provided by health visitors and GPs are not readily accessible, with many taking place via phone and video calls or not at all. There are concerns many babies may have missed their developmental health checks, due in the first few weeks of life to pick up urgent developmental needs.

"In some areas, the six-week GP baby check hasn't been available or parents haven't wanted to attend it due to a potential risk of infection," she said.

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Source: BBC News, 7 May 2020

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Concerns flagged over exploitation and poor treatment of overseas nurses

A “shocking” number of nurses from overseas are winding up “in trouble” or sanctioned within their first few months of working in the UK partly because of a lack of induction and support, a conference has heard.

The issue was raised during a panel session at the Unison health conference in April discussing the importance of ethical recruitment practices in nursing and midwifery.

According to Unison, it is supporting “many” overseas nurses who have been “exploited, unfairly treated and subject to racism” since their move.

Among the panel was Gamu Nyasoro, a clinical skills and simulation nurse manager in the NHS and an elected member of Unison’s nursing and midwifery occupational group committee.

Ms Nyasoro, who is from Zimbabwe and has been working in the NHS for the past two decades, said she herself had been discriminated against and had faced several challenges during her migration.

She raised concern that overseas nurses were not given enough information about how to live and work in the UK, including about how to access healthcare services themselves, or about country specific rules and regulations.

There was also the issue that UK employers “don’t look at their skills beforehand”, which means nurses were being put in roles or areas they were not confident in.

She cited examples of staff who had been specialising in neonatal services before moving, who were then being asked to work with older people, and those who had been practising as a midwife in their home nations and then being required to work in emergency departments in the UK.

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Source: Nursing Times, 28 April 2022

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Concerns at Nottinghamshire hospital after baby's sepsis death

The parents of a baby who died from sepsis said their son deserved a "fighting chance" after concerns were raised over his care in hospital.

Ten-week-old Tommy Gillman was admitted to King's Mill hospital on 7 December 2022 but died the next day.

Tommy Gillman, from Coddington, Nottinghamshire, was "extremely unwell" with what proved to be Salmonella Brandenburg meningitis when admitted to the Sutton-in-Ashfield hospital at 12:35 GMT.

His assessment was delayed, and then the severity of his condition missed, meaning correct treatment with antibiotics and fluids did not start until 17:00.

A coroner's report identified a lack of experienced paediatric nurses and confusion in handovers between staff.

"I am not reassured that necessary actions to address these serious issues identified are in place," the coroner said.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it welcomed the review and a "rapid" programme of improvements was being worked on.

Tamzin Myers and Charlie Gillman said their son deserved "a fighting chance" by getting prompt treatment

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Source: BBC News, 17 April 2024

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Concern voiced over 'unacceptably high level' of births by caesarean section

The rising number of women who have caesarean sections instead of natural births is causing concern for the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).

The trust, which supports women through pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood, says it does not know why the rate of caesareans is increasing.

One in four maternity services showed a caesarean rate of between 20% and 29.9%, and 2% of services had a rate of more than 30%, according to latest figures. The World Health Organization recommends that the acceptable rate is 10 to 15%.

The maternity care working party, a multi-disciplinary group set up by the NCT, said there was an urgent need to address the problem.

"A caesarean is major abdominal surgery," the working party said in a statement to a conference in London with the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

"Most women would prefer to give birth normally, provided that a normal birth is considered safe for them and their baby. It is important that health professionals' advice does not have the effect of denying them this opportunity without good reason."

The working party is calling for data to be published on caesarean section rates and for obstetricians to justify in each case that the benefits outweigh the hazards. It also wants action to be taken to prevent any inappropriate use of caesarean sections.

Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the NCT, said: "We know that in many cases caesareans are necessary for good clinical reasons. However, in our view rates have reached unacceptable levels and we want to know why."

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Source: The Guardian, 24 November 2022

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Concern raised over death of five patients seen remotely by GPs

Patients being assessed remotely in general practice, rather than face-to-face, has been raised as a risk in reports on five deaths by a single coroner since the pandemic hit.

Senior coroner for Greater Manchester Alison Mutch has written five prevention of future deaths reports highlighting concerns that doctors were missing details in telephone appointments which may have been spotted, had the patient been seen in person. The reports cover a variety of conditions, including covid, a broken femur, and anxiety and depression.

In March 2020, NHS England guidance instructed GPs to adopt a “total triage” approach, where face-to-face appointments should generally only follow a phone, video or digital consultation. But, in May, NHSE wrote to GPs to ask them to “ensure they are offering face to face appointments”, adding remote appointments “should be done alongside a clear offer of appointments in person”.

There have been growing calls in the media for increased face-to-face appointments, while, in March 2021, a report by Healthwatch concluded: “While telephone appointments are convenient for some, others are worried that their health issues will not be accurately diagnosed.”

Maureen Baker, former chair of the Royal College of GPs and Patient Safety Learning trustee told HSJ she was “not aware pre-pandemic of any major concerns with remote consulting”, adding: “It’s not that things don’t go wrong. They do, but things can and do go wrong in face-to-face consultations as well.”

“Many practices have been using remote consulting very successfully for many years [but for GPs introducing remote consultations during the pandemic] the concern is that practices will have had to change and implement it very quickly.”

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Source: HSJ, 9 September 2021

You may also be interested in a recent blog from Trish Greenhalgh: 'Why remote consultation with a doctor is difficult – and how it can be improved'

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Concern police will be able to ‘strong-arm’ NHS to hand over patient data under new plans

Police forces will be able to “strong-arm” NHS bodies into handing over confidential patient data under planned laws that have sparked fury from doctors’ groups and the UK’s medical watchdog.

Ministers are planning new powers for police forces that would “set aside” the existing duty of confidentiality that applies to patient data held by the NHS and will instead require NHS organisations to hand over data police say they need to prevent serious violence.

Last week, England’s national data guardian, Dr Nicola Byrne, told The Independent she had serious concerns about the impact of the legislation going through parliament, and warned that the case for introducing the sweeping powers had not been made.

Now the UK’s medical watchdog, the General Medical Council (GMC), has also criticised the new law, proposals for which are contained in the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill, warning it fails to protect patients’ sensitive information and could disproportionately hit some groups and worsen inequalities.

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Source: The Independent, 18 October 2021

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Concern over vaccine deployment to care homes in Scotland

Care homes will not receive the first batches of the Covid vaccine in Scotland because of problems transporting small doses around the country.

The health secretary has said about 65,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will arrive in Scotland by next Tuesday. They will initially be stored in freezers in packs of 997 doses.

The first people to receive the jab may have to travel to where the doses are being held.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said that means care homes would have to wait until the issue of breaking down the vaccines packs into smaller doses is resolved.

She told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The doses come to us in packs of 997 and we need to know to what degree we can pack that down into smaller pack sizes. If we can't, then we absolutely need to bring those who need to be vaccinated to those freezers - to the centres - because there is a limit to how much you can transport the doses once you have defrosted them."

"We don't want to waste any of this vaccine so it's not possible at this point to take it in smaller doses into, for example, care homes."

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Source: BBC News, 3 December 2020

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Concern over severe food allergy prescriptions

Only 60% of patients who have had hospital treatment for food anaphylaxis were prescribed medicine to tackle another reaction, a study has found.

The study of some 130,000 NHS records where food allergy was mentioned showed 3,589 patients received "unplanned hospital treatment" for anaphylaxis.

Of those, only 2,152 were prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI) at least once.

Two leading allergy specialists have produced guidance to raise awareness.

Clinical scientist Dr Paul Turner from the National Heart & Lung Institute at Imperial College London, who carried out the study, and Prof Adam Fox, consultant paediatric allergist at Evelina London Children's Hospital, said they hoped the leaflet they have produced would save lives.

It is designed to help patients, parents, families, grandparents, friends and nannies so they feel empowered and more confident when looking after a person with food allergies.

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Source: BBC News, 6 October 2023

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Concern over ‘disgraceful’ nurse staffing levels planned for mini Nightingales

NHS leaders have raised concerns over the “new mini Nightingales” as hospitals draw up plans for use with “minimal” nursing levels, The Independent has learned.

In December the NHS announced it would be launching eight “surge” hubs dubbed “mini Nightingales” to help hospitals manage increased admissions amid the Omicron wave.

These facilities would be able to admit about 100 patients and have been set up as temporary sites across eight NHS hospitals.

Details around the safety requirements and required staffing levels have yet to be published, however several NHS sources have said some hubs are planning to use a “low” ratio of 1:15 nurses to patients within the units.

One trust chief has called the staffing models a “disgrace” and says the hospitals should never be used.

Senior sources have questioned the safety of using a 1:15 ratio, although they said the risk would depend on how ill the patients being sent to the units are and whether there would be sufficient health care assistant support. However, sources have said the staffing models have yet to be finalised and so could change.

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Source: The Independent, 20 January 2022

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Concern after unqualified medics given senior Birmingham hospital roles

Medics who are not qualified doctors have been used in senior roles at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Physician associates (PAs) have worked as the responsible clinician in the liver unit with a consultant on call.

The RCPCH said it had heard the concerns of its members and the need for a clearly defined physician associate roles and training pathways.

The doctors' union, the British Medical Association, called for a delay on recruitment of PAs until the group was properly regulated and supervised.

The trust running the hospital said the physician associates did not work in isolation and only did the role with the right level of experience.

Introduced in 2003, the PA role involved supporting doctors so they could deal with more complex patient needs.

Usually, physician associates have a science degree and do a two-year post-graduate qualification. They are not doctors and are not allowed to prescribe drugs.

The role is currently unregulated with the government planning legislation for regulations to be introduced before the end of 2024.

PAs have worked at Birmingham Children's Hospital for 10 years but the BBC saw rotas which show them on tier two - normally a rota for senior doctors called registrars.

PAs were not allowed to work unsupervised overnight and there were consultants on call at all times to offer advice, they said.

Dr Fiona Reynolds, the trust's chief medical officer, insisted the safety and quality of care offered to children, young people and families remained a priority for everyone at the trust and would not be compromised.

"Although small in number, [the PAs] skills and dedication to offering the best for our patients complements that of their colleagues in all fields - all of which are hugely valued by our trust," she added.

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Source: BBC News, 21 November 2023

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Complex dental care 'threatened by NHS targets'

Patients needing complex dental work might have to wait longer under new NHS targets, dentists warn.

The British Dental Association (BDA) fears NHS England will impose penalties on practices that fail to reach 45% of their normal activity level, after negotiations broke down.

And practices may have to prioritise routine check-ups over more time-consuming treatments.

An NHS official said: "The NHS and the government are working to determine a safe and reasonable contractual arrangement with dentists, which recognises the constraints on practices and the need to maximise access for patients to see their dentist."

The waiting list for NHS dentistry could reach eight million by New Year's Eve, according to the Association of Dental Groups.

Dave Cottam, who chairs the BDA's General Dental Practice Committee, said: "This move will actively undermine patient care.

"Ministers are instructing dentists to churn through routine appointments against the clock, rather than deal with a huge backlog of urgent cases. Dentists wanting to do the right thing by their patients will now be punished for it."

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Source: BBC News, 16 December 2020

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Complex AI rules could risk patient safety, say officials

Half of developers are not seeking ethical approval before they start producing new artificial intelligence systems for healthcare, according to a report by NHSX.

The report, Artificial Intelligence: How to get it right, notes that the “complex governance framework” around AI tech could limit innovation and potentially compromise patient safety.

It also revealed that there is “an almost 50/50 split” between developers who sought ethical approval before they started the development process for a new AI system and those who did not.

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Source: HSJ, 31 October 2019

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Complete vaginal-mesh removals 'leaving material behind'

Dozens of women who thought they were having a "complete mesh removal" have discovered material has been left behind, the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme has been told.

Some women have been left unable to walk, work or have sex after having the initial vaginal-mesh implants.

Specialist surgeons say in some cases total or partial mesh removal can be beneficial. But some women said their symptoms had become worse. One was left suicidal.

Vaginal-mesh implants remain available on the NHS in England but only when certain conditions are met. In Scotland, the use of mesh was halted in 2018.

One paitent said her surgeon had promised her a "full mesh removal", but she has now been told more than 10cm (4in) could have been left behind. She had the mesh implanted several years ago to treat urinary incontinence and said she had woken after the surgery with "chronic pain in my legs, my groin and my hips". It is believed she suffered nerve damage.

A year later – after being told by one expert a mesh removal would be unlikely to resolve her pain – she found a surgeon who told her the implant could be completely removed. She had two operations, each taking her half a year to recover from, and was told there had been a full removal. But "within a few months" the pain began to return and her health deteriorated and she found out that only 5–8cm had been removed.

"My whole world turned upside down," she said, breaking into tears.

She has since been told by a separate specialist her form of mesh was one of the most difficult to remove and could cause significant nerve damage if not removed properly. She said she had never been told this by her surgeon.

The number of women affected is unknown but the Victoria Derbyshire programme understands there are at least dozens of such cases.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said in a statement that it took "each and every complication caused by mesh very seriously". It said: "Women must be informed of all options available and the benefits and risks of each so they can make the best decision about their care."

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Source: BBC News, 6 February 2020

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Complaints to Australian medical regulator about telehealth rise by 413% over three years

Complaints to the national medical practitioner regulator arising from telehealth appointments have increased by 413% in three years, a significant number of these relating to prescriptions.

The data provided to Guardian Australia by the Medical Board of Australia comes as the body prepares to release new guidelines for health practitioners and companies that provide telehealth consultations with patients.

Guardian Australia understands the guidelines, to be made public by Friday, will state that real-time video or phone consults are “preferred” over real-time text-based consults such as online chat because identification is harder to establish without video.

The guidelines will not ban real-time text-based consults but they will mean online quizzes, for example, can not be used to diagnose and prescribe medications to patients.

“Prescribing or providing healthcare for a patient with whom you have never consulted, whether face-to-face, via video or telephone is not good practice and is not supported by the board,” the draft guidelines state.

“This includes requests for medication communicated by text, email or online that do not take place in real-time and are based on the patient completing a health questionnaire but where the practitioner has never spoken with the patient.”

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Source: The Guardian, 20 May 2023

 

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Complaints about poor NHS dental services rise 66% in five years

Record numbers of patients are complaining to the NHS Ombudsman about poor care, exorbitant fees and difficulty getting treatment from NHS dental services in England.

Mistakes by dentists mean some patients are being left in agony – in some cases unable to eat – while others are being landed with huge bills for work on their teeth.

“Poor dental care leaves patients frustrated, in pain and out of pocket,” said Rob Behrens, the parliamentary and health service ombudsman.

The number of complaints he receives every year about NHS dental services has jumped from 1,193 in 2017-18 to 1,982 in 2022-23 – a rise of 66%.

Behrens also disclosed that the proportion of complaints he upholds about NHS dentistry after an investigation has increased from 42% to 78% over the same period. That 78% figure for upheld complaints about dental services is “significantly more” than for any other area of NHS care, such as GP, hospital or mental health care, where the overall average is 60%, he said.

Dentistry has become one of the public’s main concerns about the NHS, especially the obstacles many people face when trying to access NHS care. A BBC survey last year found that 90% of surgeries across the UK were not accepting new adult patients and 80% were not taking on children as new patients.

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Source: The Guardian, 30 October 2023

Related reading on the hub:

“I’ve been mocked, scolded and gaslighted”: a harmed patient’s experience of orthodontic treatment

A patient harmed by orthodontic treatment shares their story

We want to hear from patients with experience of NHS and/or private orthodontists and dentists in any healthcare setting, including community practices and hospitals.

  • Did the orthodontist/dentist give you the treatment and support you needed?
  • If you had ongoing problems, how did the orthodontist/dentist and other healthcare professionals respond?
  • Have you tried to make a complaint?

Share your experience of orthodontist and dentistry services

 

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Complaints about non-surgical butt lifts ‘rising at alarming rate’ in UK

Complaints about non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts and breast enhancements have risen at an “alarming” rate, up from fewer than 5 to 50 in a year, an industry body has revealed.

Save Face, a national, government-approved register of accredited non-surgical treatment practitioners, is calling for the procedures to be banned, while the Local Government Association has asked Westminster to take urgent action.

Ashton Collins, the director of Save Face, said the organisation had noted an “alarming” increase in complaints about these enhancements, which she said should be banned.

Collins said: “No reputable healthcare professional would offer these treatments as they are very high risk.

“It’s a new and incredibly dangerous trend which has emerged from social media, a trend people think is a cheaper, risk-free alternative to the surgical counterparts. All the cases reported to us have been carried out by non-healthcare practitioners who have prioritised profits ahead of the safety and wellbeing of their clients.

“These treatments are incredibly risky, and we have helped people who have contracted sepsis and have had to undergo surgery to remove the filler. In 2021, we had fewer than five complaints about these treatments. That figure has increased tenfold in the past year alone and we are getting more and more complaints each week.”

Read full story

Source: The Guardian, 2 June 2023

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