'Early warning' to spot medical error

System would log "medical incidents"

The government is to set up what it calls an "early warning system" to detect serious medical problems in the wake of recent hospital scandals.

The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Liam Donaldson is to announce on Tuesday the creation of a central register of medical incidents, to log serious events including "near miss" cases.

It comes as it emerged on Monday that about 230 people being tested for cancer and other illnesses may have been misdiagnosed by 78-year-old pathologist James Elwood.

Under the new system, any serious medical mistake or incident must be reported to a central register which would be open and regularly checked.

England first

The Department of Health hopes the system could be used to identify incompetent doctors, like disgraced gynaecologist Rodney Ledward, earlier.

Rodney Ledward: Disgraced gynaecologist

It could even highlight criminal activities like those of the former GP Harold Shipman.

At present these are only proposals and only relate to England.

A spokesman for the Department of Health says Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will bring forward their own proposals later in the year.