Botched outsourced hip operations ‘a burden on NHS’

Hip operations that have been completed by private practices are more likely to be botched than those on the NHS and place a huge burden upon the healthcare service due to correctional surgeries having to be carried out.

These are the results of a study into the issue, which was conducted by researchers from the University Hospital in Cardiff and examined 113 hip replacement procedures over a two-year period, reports the Guardian.

It found that two-thirds of these operations resulted in errors that could have brought about early-stage failure.

The news provider quotes Tony Hui, chairman of the British Orthopaedic Directors Society, as saying: “Continuity of treatment is key. It’s like buying a car without any back-up service. When the car goes wrong, you are left on your own.”

In other NHS news this week, research conducted by the Dr Foster unit and the department of acute medicine at Imperial College London found that the first week in August, which is traditionally when new doctors are inducted into UK hospitals, sees a six per cent increase in the likelihood of patient deaths.