News archive

  • Black maternal mortality disparities: 50 years on and we are still “counting” 

    April 24, 2023 | Blog

    I turned to the Annex of the Report, which sets out a comprehensive timeline on maternal health disparities. This shows that from as early as 1970-72, information about mothers’ countries of birth was included in the National systems into Maternal Deaths and that it was known that mothers born in what was then called the ‘New Commonwealth’ showed much higher mortality rates than mothers born in the UK. So, to be clear, this issue was first known about 50 years ago. And yet here we still are talking about strategies and plans to rectify this health inequality. So, what else is going on here?

  • Optimism was in the wind at the AvMA Conference in Bournemouth

    March 29, 2023 | Blog

    I opened the Conference by talking about some the challenges – as well as the opportunities – that I see across the patient safety and access to justice terrain. I talked about the real challenges and pressures the NHS is under, which are unprecedented in modern times. Combined with evidence that suggests that health inequalities are worsening post-COVID, it is hard to see how the drive for incremental patient safety improvements can hold. But I also pointed to the opportunities. I have been really encouraged and impressed by the people and organisations I have met who are so determined and passionate about continuing to drive positive change and better patient safety outcomes.  

  • Meet the #ACNC2023 AvMA Staff Team

    February 24, 2023

    Meet the staff team present at the #ACNC2023 in Bournemouth next month.

  • Collaboration on Covid clinical negligence claims reaps rewards

    January 24, 2023

    The collaborative approach taken by NHS Resolution, Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) and the Society of Clinical Injury Lawyers (SCIL) in designing and operating the Covid 19 Clinical Negligence Claims Protocol has significantly reduced the volume of clinical negligence claims that have become litigated and created savings benefiting the NHS and patients.

  • An explanation about a medical accident, and the lack of an apology, made up 45% of inquiries to AvMA in 2022

    January 23, 2023

    In 2022 AvMA received 419 written requests for advice and assistance from UK patients. In 45% of those cases, the inquiry was about the lack of an explanation when a medical accident had occurred and how to secure an investigation and an apology.

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