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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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Depending on the cause, a stay in hospital may mean immobility in bed for a varying length of time and, unfortunately, the longer a patient remains bed-ridden, the more likely they are to develop pressure sores which could then become the basis of a case for compensation for medical negligence.
Pressure or bed sores, also known as decubitus ulcers, develop when skin under pressure becomes damaged, usually as a result of friction with bed linen combined with damp, temperature and a patient's general medical condition.
There are varying degrees of seriousness of the resulting wounds which can range from skin reddening and slight pain through to open ulcers extending down to the bone. Minor sores should clear within two weeks but severe injuries may never heal completely.
The wounds can easily become infected which delays healing and may mean a patient is not able to leave hospital as soon as they would have done otherwise. Disabling and painful effects can continue for weeks or months even after treatment has started.
Hospitals and nursing homes should be well aware of the risk of pressure sores developing, particularly with certain categories of patient who lie or sit in one position without moving. For people who cannot help themselves, staff should have a regular plan for moving or turning them in order to reduce the chance of harm to the skin.
If staff are either unaware of the need to turn patients or fail to do so, they or their supervisors may be considered liable to an accusation of neglect should this result in harm to the patient.
When basic standards of hygiene and care of bed-ridden patients are followed, it is less likely that long-term harm will ensue but a lapse which may mean continued pain and suffering could provide the basis for a claim for compensation for medical negligence.
Claiming medical negligence compensation with YouClaim
Long-term patients in hospital, nursing or residential homes, particularly elderly people, are vulnerable to pressure sores and, if this has happened to you or a loved one, the lawyers at YouClaim may be able to help you achieve recompense for the personal injury incurred through the actions or inactions of others.
The personal injury solicitors who work with YouClaim throughout the UK have many years' experience of dealing with clinical and medical negligence cases, dealing with all of them in a sympathetic and professional manner.
Their thorough approach has resulted in a high success rate for medical compensation claims and you can be assured of their standards because they are all supervised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Initial advice about a potential claim is free and, if you decide to go ahead, all the procedures will be explained in clear English.
To contact us about compensation for medical negligence, you can call free on 0800 10 757 95, complete an online claim form or log on for an e-chat and discuss the merits of your case.
