So coroners served 42 prevention of future death reports (PFDs) about NHS resourcing issues? In 2016 – two years ago? What, one fears, is the situation now?

We already know that, between 2012 and 2017 – the year after that to which the current report relates – no less than 271 PFDs were issued by coroners, about the deaths of mental health patients due to failings in health and social care.

How many other branches of healthcare are there? How many hundreds more death reports, triggered by Conservative negligence?

All of them preventable.

But of course, the Department of Health is no longer responsible for the state of the National Health Service, nor does the Health Secretary have any reason to concern himself over these deaths.

Consider the response to the latest revelation from a Health Department spokesperson: “When coroners recommend specific steps to prevent future tragedy we expect NHS bodies to act without delay.”

That’s right – the Tories respond with a demand for the health service to improve its standards.

But with no resources provided to cover the lack that caused the deaths in the first place, how is this to be achieved?

No answer is forthcoming.

The number of legal warnings issued by coroners over patient deaths in England attributed to NHS resourcing issues has risen by 40% in three years.

There were 42 prevention of future death reports (PFDs) relating to issues such as lack of beds, staff shortages and insufficiently trained agency staff in 2016 compared with 30 in 2013.

Coroners have a statutory duty to make reports to a person, organisation, local authority or government department or agency where the coroner believes that action should be taken to prevent future deaths.

Labour, which compiled the figures, blamed the increase on the government’s austerity policies.

Source: ‘Shocking’ rise in coroner warnings over NHS patient deaths, says Labour | Society | The Guardian

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