Putting up with poor healthcare

MORE than half of patients who receive poor medical treatment don’t complain.

In fact, a survey of 2,500 Britons found that respondents were more likely to kick up a fuss about postal delivery issues than unsatisfactory healthcare.

The results are significant because there are an estimated 87,000 avoidable deaths in the UK every year due to preventable medical conditions, according to the Office for National Statistics – and keeping quiet about blunders increases the risk of them happening again, experts warn.

Almost half the participants in the poll – conducted by the medical negligence lawyers Fletchers Solicitors – said the main reason for keeping quiet was they did not think it was important, along with believing it wouldn’t make a difference and not wanting to make a scene.