Errors, emergencies and inequality: key findings from our latest indicators

Six interesting statistics on topics including NHS complaints, medication errors, life expectancy and emergency calls.

Qualitywatch

Blog post

Published: 16/04/2015

We look at some of the most interesting findings from our most recent healthcare data, including information on NHS complaints, medication errors, life expectancy, inequalities and emergency calls.

1. Ambulance calls are rising, but more are being resolved on the phone and fewer of these callers now ring again within 24 hours.

Ambulance calls graphic

See care quality indicator: Ambulance call handling.
(Data source: NHS England, Ambulance Quality Indicators).

2. Life expectancy in the UK is longer for women than men but the gap is narrowing, and it decreases as people get older.

Life expectancy graphic

See care quality indicator: Life expectancy.
(Data source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Health Statistics 2014).

3. Most people would prefer to die at home, but how likely this is to happen depends on where you live.

Dying at home statistics graphic

See care quality indicator: Dying at home.
(Data source: National End of Life Care Intelligence Network, End-of-life care profiles).

4. The number of medication errors that are reported is going up, but the proportion that are severe or fatal is falling.

Medication errors graphic

See full care quality indicator: Medication errors
(Data sources: Department of Health, Outcomes Framework; National Patient Safety Agency, National Reporting and Learning System).

5. People in deprived areas are significantly more likely to be hospitalised due to a fall than those in wealthier neighbourhoods.

Hospitalisation for falls graphic

See care quality indicator: Injuries due to falls
(Data source: Health & Social Care Information Centre, Hospital Episode Statistics).

6. Written complaints are increasing in hospital and community health services, but the proportion that are upheld varies between services.

Complaints graphic

See care quality indicator: Written complaints in the NHS
(Data source: Health & Social Care Information Centre, Data on written complaints).

Icons provided by The Noun Project: ‘Ambulance’ and ‘House’ by Paulo Volkova, ‘Time’ by Richard de Vos, ‘Phone’ by Tom Walsh, ‘Calendar’ by Matthew Hawdon, ‘Person’ by Ferran Brown, ‘Hospital’ by Carlotta Zampini, ‘Pill’ by Gabriele Malaspina, ‘Horizonal’ by Arthur Shlain, ‘Money’ by Iain Hector, ‘Apartment’ by Adam Iscrupe, ‘Checklist’ by Phil Laver, ‘Community’ by Jessica Lock, ‘Patient’ by Wilson Joseph, ‘Outpatient’ by Joel Burke, ‘Brain’ by Gabriele Garofalo, ‘Hospital’ and ‘First Aid’ by Mister Pixel.

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