Patients Association highlights failings in NHS care quality

NHS leaders must move to address the many serious breaches of care quality standards that still occur across the country, according to The Patients Association.

The organisation has published its fourth annual Patient Stories report, which features 13 accounts from patients or relatives of those who have experienced poor care in hospitals and care homes.

Among the testimonies was a case in which a man with Alzheimer's disease wandered off from a hospital and drowned because he was not monitored properly, while another saw a woman undergo tests without explanation and receive a do not resuscitate order on her file without consultation.

The Patients Association said it wishes to work closely with NHS trusts and the Care Quality Commission to ensure such incidents are not repeated.

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the association, said: "These appalling and tragic cases serve to highlight the devastating consequences when poor practice is left unchallenged and unchanged. Behind each one are many more unheard voices."

Earlier this month, the body welcomed the publication of the new NHS Mandate, as it believes this could help make services more accountable to patients.