Patients admitted as emergencies should see consultant in 12 hours, NCEPOD recommends

Nearly four in 10 patients who are admitted to hospital as emergencies receive suboptimal care that in many cases is detrimental to their outcome, a UK study has found.

The latest report from the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) says that such patients should be seen by a senior doctor within 12 hours and that standardised forms should be introduced across the NHS to make it clear that this has happened.

NCEPOD, an independent charity that aims to improve the delivery of health services, reviewed …