Medical negligence news
05/12/2007

Duvets reduce the risk of personal injury claims

Hospitals are replacing their traditional blankets with duvets in a bid improve the level of care provided for patients as well as cut the number of personal injury claims made for medical negligence.

So far, Worthing Hospital and Southlands Hospital in Shoreham are among the first to trial the new duvets, which will not only increase the time nurses spend caring for patients but also reduce expensive laundry bills.

A team manager for Worthing Hospital's Buckingham ward said: "We've been spending less time changing bed linen since we've had the duvets and patients like them because they are lighter than the sheets and blankest we used before.

"Visitors commented on how nice the ward looked and the patients said they felt warm and secure under the duvets. One even said she wanted to take it home with her."

An NHS Trust clinical specialist also added: "The reaction to them has been very positive. The patients feel less restricted and the duvets are much lighter than blankets."

With more time to care for their patients, the risk of clinical negligence should be reduced dramatically, which will hopefully in turn reduce the number of people making compensation claims with the help of personal injury claim solicitors.