DAUK\u2019s call for action to improve patient safety following coroners\u2019 findings into the deaths of two children has made headlines in medical news media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doctors Association UK (DAUK) has written to health secretary James Murray urging the introduction of clear national standards to ensure patients referred to hospital by a GP are assessed by a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DAUK GP co-leads Dr Sarah Jacques and Dr Steve Taylor wrote to Mr Murray following coroners\u2019 reports into the deaths of nine-year-old Dylan Cope and eight-year-old Ethan Hanson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were both urgently referred to hospital by their GPs with suspected appendicitis but, according to the coroners\u2019 findings, were not assessed by a doctor after arriving at hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The letter has been featured by The BMJ<\/a>, Pulse<\/a> and Doctors.net.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In it, Dr Jacques and Dr Taylor called on the government to introduce national standards requiring patients urgently referred to hospital by a GP to be assessed by a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The letter also asks to ensure that no patient with undifferentiated symptoms is assessed or discharged without doctor oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DAUK has invited Mr Murray and Department of Health officials to discuss the proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n