The Medical Negligence Blog
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Cancelled NHS appointments and medical negligence compensation
In some circumstances, cancelled NHS appointments can be unavoidable. But with reports of increasing numbers of delays and problems, we need to look at patient safety.
And we also need to look at when cancellations lead to patient suffering, and whether a victim can be entitled to make a claim for medical negligence compensation.
It’s understood that there are increasing numbers of appointments being cancelled, and some are being cancelled more than once. There have been reports of some patients facing 10 cancellations in a row, which is staggering. With this problem seemingly on the rise, what can patients do?
When breast cancer is not diagnosed in time
It can be truly devastating when breast cancer is not diagnosed quickly enough, whether it’s due to an initial misdiagnosis, or problems getting scans, referrals and results.
Like with other cancers, it can spread into other areas of the body. If left untreated for too long, the cancer can spread to the point where there’s simply nothing more that can be done.
For those patients who are fortunate enough to be able to make a recovery, a late diagnosis can still leave you with long-term health problems and a great deal of suffering. That’s why it’s important to know your rights when it comes to medical negligence personal injury compensation claims.
Compensation for a cancelled operation
It’s possible to be able to make a claim for compensation for a cancelled operation, and this can be something that we’re able to offer No Win, No Fee representation for.
Whether you can claim or not often depends on a number of factors as to why the procedure was cancelled, as well as the priority of the procedure, and if you have suffered.
When it comes to making a claim for medical negligence compensation, we must typically show that negligence has occurred, and that the negligence has caused suffering. It isn’t always the case that a a cancelled procedure stems from negligence, so we must assess each case on its own individual merits.
Mental health negligence claims
As well as needing to talk about our mental health, we also need to make sure that we talk about, and address, mental health negligence claims.
Mental health has never been more prevalent than it this day and age. It’s not the misunderstood and sometimes even taboo topic that it used to be. With World Mental Health Day passing last week, we wanted to briefly talk about the issues surrounding diagnosis and treatment, and how they tie in with claims for compensation.
In the same way that a lack of treatment or a lack of a diagnosis for a physical ailment can leave patients suffering more, and suffering worse, the same can be said about our mental health as well.
NHS screening problems: advice for patients
When it comes to NHS screening problems for things like cancer, it’s important that patients get the right help when it’s needed.
But when things go wrong, patients can suffer. When problems are avoidable, that’s where we can help people.
Delayed diagnosis or delayed treatment that stems from problems with screening can allow a patient to make a medical negligence claim for compensation. Depending on what has happened, we may be able to offer No Win, No Fee representation.
Compensation for hip replacement surgery gone wrong
If you need to claim compensation for hip replacement surgery that has gone wrong, we can help you as expert medical negligence solicitors.
Even when cases feel like they ought to be straightforward, many medical negligence claims can be difficult to pursue. Succeeding with a case can often come down to the evidence available and the opinions of the independent experts that we instruct. Medicine and surgery is not always an exact science.
But, when it comes to matters a serious as hip replacement surgery, instructing the right law firm can be the difference between winning your case, or receiving nothing at all.
Worrying numbers of NHS ‘never events’
There have been some worrying numbers surrounding the volumes of so-called NHS ‘never events’ in recent times, and some of the instances are shocking.
NHS ‘never events’ are essentially serious errors and mistakes that should never happen because they should be completely preventable. They include things like the wrong body parts being operated on or removed, or the wrong areas inside the body being operated on. They also include incorrect surgeries and tools being left inside patients after procedures.
Recent data has suggested that there has been a worrying number of the so-called ‘never events’, which is a cause for concern.
Charing Cross Gender Identity Clinic email leak
If you have been affected by the Charing Cross Gender Identity Clinic email leak, we may be able to assist you with a claim for compensation.
We also deal with medical data breach compensation claims, which are still cases involving elements of medical negligence. Cases work in a very similar way as they do with injury claims, where we can represent you on a No Win, No Fee basis.
If you were a victim of the GIC incident, we may be able to help you. We’re taking cases forward now and have already launched legal action in response to the data breach.
Vaginal mesh scandal: what you can do
If you’re one of the victims of the ongoing vaginal mesh scandal, and you’ve yet to make a claim for medical negligence compensation, we can help.
We’re representing victims who are claiming with us on a No Win, No Fee basis, and we have been doing so for a number of years. We won’t lie: these claims can be incredibly difficult to pursue. But with our specialist help and proven expertise, we can give you a good chance of justice.
Here’s a little advice about your rights if you have suffered – or are left suffering for the rest of your life – due to pelvic mesh problems.
Private ambulances putting patients at risk?
There has been a reported rise in the number of private ambulances in use, which is feared to be leaving patients at a greater risk of medical negligence.
It’s understood that chronic shortages are leading to many Trusts using private ambulances for 999 calls more and more. The spend on private vehicles is said to be increasing, with millions being spent in order to cover gaps in the service.
The worry is whether these private ambulances are up to the job, especially since recent studies suggests that they may not be.
Delayed diagnosis compensation
It’s important to make a claim for delayed diagnosis compensation if you have suffered complications or suffered for longer due to delays.
And with recent studies suggesting that it’s getting even harder to access quick GP appointments due to funding constraints, we’re concerned that more victims of a delayed diagnosis may need help.
When a delay that’s caused by a slow diagnosis or an incorrect diagnosis occurs, you can be eligible to make a claim for medical negligence compensation.
NHS cancer scans delayed over pensions problems
It’s reported that there are delays with NHS cancer scans being read that has stemmed from an ongoing pensions tax row that has led to some NHS staff limiting the amount of overtime they do.
In some cases, cancer scans are being left for weeks before being dealt with, which can leave patients vulnerable to cancer spreading and the development of compilations. One example reportedly saw turnaround times jump from one week to one month, and some patients have turned up to appointments for readings to be given when scans haven’t been dealt with at all, leading to wasted appointments.
At the centre of this ongoing dispute is the patients who are vulnerable to suffering more when turnaround times are impacted. For a matter as serious and as left threatening as cancer, something needs to be done.