TV hospital dramas leading to unrealistic patient expectations, say nurses

Inaccurate depictions of hospitals on TV dramas such as Holby City are causing patients to believe nurses and doctors can "perform miracles", it has been claimed.

The unrealistically high survival rates in such programmes give people false hope, say nurses.

This increases the likelihood of patients' families attempting to sue a hospital or its staff when treatment is unsuccessful.

John Hill, a nurse from Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, told Royal College of Nursing's annual conference in Bournemouth that it was a sad fact that not everyone treated in emergency wards will survive.

"Unfortunately, unlike in Holby City, I am a mere mortal and cannot perform miracles," he said.

"But many relatives believe because of that, you can. And the injury lawyers assure them that if you don't they will get recompense for it."

The number of clinical negligence claims brought against the NHS has soared in recent years.

In 2008/09, 6,088 claims were made, compared to 5,470 in 2007/08.

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