NHS mistakes cost £2.5 annually, says Hunt

The Guardian has reported that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will say today that mistakes, such as giving patients the wrong drug, cost the NHS budget £2.5 billion annually, adding that budgetary constraints are not an excuse for not improving  safety. Hunt is expected to quote figures from a recent NHS England report that puts the annual at an estimated £1-£2.5 billion, detailing costs for different types of errors.

The Health Secretary’s announcements are the latest in a recent drive to improve patient safety and transparency.