Report berates GPs' out-of-hours care
Gordon Brown plans to shake-up GPs' out-of-hours services
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Friday, 25, May 2007 05:44
GPs' out-of-hours services have been criticised for the death of a 41-year-old mother who died after eight doctors failed to diagnose her symptoms.
Penny Campbell died of multiple organ failure in the Easter weekend of 2005 after six doctors she spoke to on the telephone and two she saw face-to-face failed to diagnose her symptoms of septicaemia.
By the time the mother and journalist attended A&E, her condition had severely worsened and she died just 24 hours later, leaving a six-year-old son.
An inquest into her death last year revealed that the doctors' inability to read each other's notes in the case led to Ms Campbell's illness being played down.
However a new report has identified "major failures" by Camidoc, the out-of-hours GP service covering areas of north London which provided Ms Campbell's care.
"We accept and will deliver all of the recommendations, many of which we are already in the process of implementing," a statement from Camidoc said.
Yet the report also noted that Camidoc, a small company, was not prepared to take on the responsibilities it had been given.
The report comes amid plans by future prime minister Gordon Brown to shake-up GPs' out-of-hours services, including cutting the six-figure salaries of some family doctors if they fail to provide a full out-of-hours service.
The failure of the out-of-hours service was berated by Ms Campbell's partner of 20 years, Angus MacKinnon
"It has always been clear to me that Camidoc's system at the time of Penny's death was completely shambolic," Mr MacKinnon told the Independent newspaper.
"This report confirms that, but it also makes clear that this situation was the result of a huge policy change being implemented nationwide without any kind of trial or proper assessment of the risks involved."