No more avoidable deaths: hospitals must be safe places for disabled people

Wed,12 September 2018
News Health & Social Care

Today, on world sepsis day, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has published a case about an avoidable death from sepsis which happened at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

View case summary

View press release

A disabled young woman died from sepsis following a urinary tract infection and her mother brought a complaint to the Ombudsman about the care and treatment provided by the Trust, which they investigated and partly upheld.

DR UK Deputy CEO Sue Bott commented:

“The government response to the report on the untimely deaths of learning disabled people and the complaint investigated by the parliamentary and health ombudsman regarding a young disabled woman’s death from sepsis both demonstrate that the NHS needs to go much further in ensuring that staff have received disability equality and awareness training and that they listen and respond to the needs of disabled patients. 

"Hospitals should be safe places where the highest quality of care is given to all.”