More people killed in hospital accidents in England

The number of patients killed in hospitals in England as a result of incidents including medical errors, hospital acquired infections and abuse by staff has risen by 60% since 2005. Figures show that 3,645 people died in English hospitals in 2007-08, up from 2,275 in 2005-06. Included in this total are 22 people who died as a result of abuse by hospital staff or third parties, 309 people who died in infection control incidents, 14 people died because of mix-ups with forms and records, and 171 people died in accidents.