The Medical Negligence Blog
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Childbirth brain injuries advice
The subject of childbirth brain injuries isn’t something that many people really want to have to discuss or address, given how traumatic it can be.
However, given the impact that this kind of injury can have on the patient for the rest of their life, it’s important for victims and their families to understand their legal rights.
There is a process that allows for a pathway to justice, and it’s about achieving the best that we can when considering the circumstances. We can’t turn back the clock but, as specialist medical negligence lawyers that focus on serious and catastrophic injury cases, there is a great deal that we can do.
Compensation for waiting for A&E care
You may be entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation if you have suffered as a result of waiting for A&E care.
As we often say when it comes to these kinds of legal cases, whether there’s a claim to settle or not is simply a matter of the details which we look at on a case-by-case basis. Some delays cannot be avoided, and some delays don’t cause any kind of suffering at all or may only cause minimal suffering.
As specialist medical negligence lawyers, we can offer our advice and a claims assessment on a completely free and no-obligation basis.
Compensation for waiting for an ambulance
It’s possible to be able to make a claim for medical negligence compensation that arises from waiting for an ambulance where this has led to suffering and loss.
This is an important topic to cover, especially when we’re facing longer waits across the NHS in general. Although needing to wait for emergency transport in itself doesn’t mean you’re entitled to receive compensation, there are times when a case can be made. In such times, a case may be vital as some form of justice for the patient, especially when severe injury and losses have occurred.
We may be able to offer No Win, No Fee representation for cases of this nature. Patients must be allowed some form of justice for what they have to go through.
NHS bed shortages and compensation
At this time of the year, we do need to discuss the issues surrounding bed shortages and compensation within the NHS.
We always seem to be set for “one of the coldest winters on record”, but whether that’s true or not, this is the time of the year when demand for the NHS usually rises. With the increased demand comes the issue of shortages across the board. When it comes to beds, this can be problematic in some cases.
We expect some delays when demand is higher, but that doesn’t mean patients should suffer anything that can be serious. If that happens, that’s when we may need to assess the situation to see what can be done about it.
In the winter months, there are always concerns over long hospital waiting times which can stem from shortages of beds and staff.
There’s usually an increase in the number of people who require care in colder months which is why the shortages can occur. Although some patients can wait for longer when it comes to non-urgent matters, the worry is when something more urgent is missed.
In some cases, a delayed diagnosis or delayed treatment can lead to complications. It’s these cases where this isn’t identified that can cause problems and lead to cases of negligence against the NHS.
Victims and families first in Shrewsbury and Telford maternity scandal
The focus of the inquiry into the recently unveiled Shrewsbury and Telford maternity scandal must ensure that the victims and their families are put first.
These are matters that have left permanent emotional scars on people’s lives, and the NHS must ensure that there is never a repeat of this kind of scandal ever again. Nothing can ever be done to undo what has happened, and people who should have been experiencing one of the happiest times of their lives have instead been left with permanent heartbreak.
Some form of justice must be achieved so there can be a form of closure for those affected, and changes must be made to ensure this never happens again.
A&E negligence solicitors’ advice
If you need our specialist advice as expert medical negligence solicitors when it comes to matters of A&E negligence, we can help you.
Winter is here, and we are potentially facing a rather cold one. The extra strain that the NHS will face is likely on its way if it’s not already here, and we may see bed shortages and longer waits in A&E. Whilst we know that it’s for the government to ensure that we have a fully functioning and properly funded healthcare service, patients cannot be allowed to suffer in silence.
When patients do suffer, lives can be turned upside down. And that’s where we come in.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust scandal advice
What is being called the “largest maternity scandal in NHS history” involving the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SATH) has hit the headlines this week.
We’re shocked and appalled by what we have seen, which appears to be a period of 40 years of negligent care and treatment that may involve as many as 600 cases of medical negligence. Leaked reports appear to have singled out at least 42 infant deaths and the deaths of three mothers, as well as outlining more than 50 cases of children being left with brain damage.
It appears that there has been substandard care across the board which may have resulted in dozens of deaths and cases of children being left with permanent and catastrophic injuries.
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.
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.