hospital negligence

[jevan28]

hi does anyone know how i go about pursuing a negligence claim. My Dad went into hospital in January with a water infection 17 stone, he was a double amputee and was allowed to fall three times. had to be operated on in his bed after one fall, was sent home with the wrong medication he was treated for a number of infections...he ended up with a grade 3 bedsore his kidneys started to fail he left hospital 7 stone and died 4 weeks later. We've since found out his consultant never pursued our complaint about the incorrect insulin medication

[poppynurse]

Sorry to hear you have lost your Dad.

Medical negligence claims are a minefield and advice cannot be given without a comprehansive understanding of events. The medical notes are key here. Taking a medical negligence claim throught he courts will require significant resources , including a specialist solicitor and take a number of years.

PALS at the hospital concerned should be your first point of complaint. They may be able to help you resolve issues more informally than legal action.

[ap088]

There's also ICAS as well. See here

Independent Complaints Advocacy Services (ICAS) : Department of Health - Managing your organisation


They should be able to help you.

[ChinaPlate]

I did a bit of research on Health Insurance:

Information on the NHS
National Health Service News | News Subject A-Z | Patient UK News

Information on Private Healthcare
Private Health Insurance UK : Information and online quotes for private health insurance plans.

General information on topics such as:
The NHS, Health Insurance, and dealing with illness

Hope you find this helpful!

[dietcola]

hay hay, i imagine this is very worrying and upsetting for you and i hope that you do persue a claim against the hospital, judging by what youve said I think you have a good case for (EDIT)medical neglegence[/url],

The firm above i used on a no win no fee basis and the solicitor they assigned to my case was very helpful.

My case was resolved over 5 or 6 years and was to do with and operation where the instruments were not cleaned properly and i conteracted HIV as a result... indeed it was slog to get the compensation i deserved but we had a clear cut case appaerently and the time was taken up in the paper work of deciding how mcuh i was entiltled to, many medical and much paperwork later, after much leaising with solicitors and too and froo between medical examiners etc... basically its a long slog but if you feel the hospital was a fault persue it!

stay positive and hope for the best!

[Sali]

Jevan28
I'm very sorry to hear about the death of your dad. I can empathise, as my mum died a few months ago after 10 months in hospital. I encountered dreadful and sub-standard nursing care and arrogant, incompetent doctors. My mum was elderly and had been (wrongly) diagnosed with vascular dementia. I feel this diagnosis means no further worth of investigation. Just shortly before her death I, who had never accepted the dementia tag, concluded that she was toxic on an anti-convulsant drug. The result was positive and I was elated to think my mum would now recover. A week later she died. Without my request for a postmortem, even today the hospital would not know the cause of death - pelvic abcess, which according to the pathologist caused all of her other symptoms. The hospital were surprised by my request for postmortem. When I think of how my mum suffered I am so angry and I want those who 'failed' her to be punished. I cannot understand how social workers are held to account for failing in their duties to the children in their care and prosecuted by The Crown, whereas failures by medical staff have to be pursued by the individual or their family at great expense. If we had a system where a doctor could be sued directly, those that received too many successful claims against them wouldn't be able to get insurance...and could not longer practice. A sure way of getting rid of the rubbish and keeping them on their toes.

[juliem34]

hi there, sorry to hear about what happened.
i just wanted to let you know you should check out your dads and your own home insurance as often you will have legal cover on them which will cover you. they will instruct lawyers who specialise in medical negligence who will then look at the medical records to see if you have a case and it wont have cost you a penny.
it is good practice to write a written complaint to the trust first and receive a response but you can instruct a solicitor through your home insurance while awaiting a reply.
hope this helps. x

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