The Medical Negligence Blog
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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.
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.
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.