MANAGERS of local hospitals, which include Basildon and Orsett, have issued a reassurance to residents across south Essex that they are being open and honest about levels of care in the region – and are constantly reviewing procedures to improve care.

That view was encapsulated in a statement by Christine Blanshard, Chief Medical Officer at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, in response to a marketing campaign by medical negligence solicitors.

Ms Blanshard said: "As one of the largest Trusts in the country we serve a population of 1.2million, which will be reflected in the higher numbers of incidents reported.

"We take patient safety incidents very seriously, promoting an open and honest culture where concerns can be raised.

"This means that we can review where we can improve care to ensure we offer safe, high-quality and compassionate care to all our patients."

Recent NHS data analysed by Blackwater Law, specialist Medical Negligence Solicitors, highlighted that the Trust recorded one of the highest number of patient safety incidents during the latest reporting period, with a total of 9,666 incidents.

A patient safety incident is defined as an unexpected or unintended event occurring during medical treatment that could, or did, result in harm to a patient. These incidents vary in severity, ranging from those with no physical harm to cases involving serious injury or fatality.

Of the 739,413 patient safety incidents reported across all NHS Trusts, 63.98% (473,069 cases) involved no harm to the patient, while 29.67% (219,403 incidents) were classified as low harm, requiring minimal treatment or additional monitoring. 5.15% (38,078 cases) led to moderate harm, with 0.55% (4,055 incidents) resulting in severe harm. Tragically, 0.65% (4,808 cases) were fatal.

An NHS spokesperson added: "While these figures may raise concerns, they reflect an emphasis on detailed reporting and transparency rather than serving as a direct measure of care quality."

Blackwater Law says it advocates for patients who have suffered due to errors or poor medical practice and one of its partners, Jason Brady, said: "While these reports demonstrate transparency within NHS Trusts, they also highlight the scale at which patient safety incidents occur. Behind these statistics are real individuals, potentially facing life-altering consequences for them and their families. These incidents can arise due to medical errors or negligence.

"At Blackwater Law, we are committed to ensuring that those affected receive the legal support they need to understand their rights and pursue fair outcomes.

"Supporting patients affected by medical negligence and recognising and addressing patient safety incidents is crucial in improving healthcare standards and ensuring accountability."