The Government is being urged avert a potential patient safety crisis by commiting adequate resources and support to clearing the backlog of referrals and follow-ups in secondary health care due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Medical Protection Society, which provides insurance for medical professionals, warns that failure to do so could lead to a huge number of future claims or investigations.
A survey of members of the Society suggests that nearly 2 in 5 doctors (38%) are concerned that they will face a regulatory or criminal investigation if patients come to harm as a result of delayed referrals or non-Covid-19 services being unavailable or limited. Read:Latest coronavirus stories Elsewhere, more than 25,000 people have signed a petition