We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
In 2009 the Patients Association, a charity that's aim is to promote the voices of patients in healthcare institutions, voiced serious concern about the care of around 1 million patients in the UK and decried the standards of some NHS hospitals as "appalling". Such claims do little to reassure the public that the spectre of multi-million pound medical negligence compensation settlements is about to disappear.
Most pressing, says the association, is the treatment received by elderly, with accusations that some elderly patients are left to lie in their own urine or faeces. It was also claimed that many did not receive the necessary assistance eating.
Karen Murphy, the Patients Association director, comments, "These accounts reveal patients being denied basic dignity in their care – often left in soiled bedclothes, being given inadequate food and drink, having repeated falls, suffering from late diagnosis, cancelled operations, bungled referrals and misplaced notes. There are also worrying instances of cruel and callous attitudes from staff towards vulnerable and sometimes terminally ill patients."
The latest available figures show that one in ten patients rate their quality of care as "poor" - nine in ten rate it as "excellent" or "good; however, it would be misguided to consider this as entirely positive feedback. Murphy comments again, "These accounts tell the story of the 2% of patients that consistently rate their care as poor. If this was extrapolated to the whole of the NHS from 2002 to 2008 it would equate to over 1 million patients. Very often these are the most vulnerable elderly and terminally ill patients - it's a sad indictment of the care they receive."
The Care Quality Commission has indicated that it will respond to the challenging questions raised by the report. "It is absolutely right to highlight that standards of hospital care can vary from very good to poor," says Barbara Young, chair of the CQC.
"Many people are happy with the care they receive, but we also know that there are problems. Matters related to the dignity of care are of particular concern to patients and their families. And poor basic nursing is a recurring theme in organisations that perform badly.
Failure to respond could leave some trusts facing devastating medical negligence compensation bills. "I am in no doubt that many hospitals need to raise their game in this area," says Young.
"As the regulator, CQC is dedicated to helping eliminate poor practice and to ensuring care focuses on people as individuals and on their needs."
Leading clinical negligence lawyers
Regardless of where you were treated, whether it was in an NHS hospital or private clinic, if you have been subjected to substandard or negligent care and have suffered injury as a result, claiming compensation is your legal and civil right.
Clinical negligence cases tend to be very complex, so it is essential to the success of your case that you have the best possible legal representation. YouClaim's panel is exclusively comprised of specialists drawn from panel firms governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority; many also possess membership of the Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme.
We have earned a reputation for putting the client first: we strive to keep all costs to an absolute minimum, warn of them in advance and also ensure that they are reimbursed in a won case (as most of ours are).
We never take a cut: this is our 100 percent compensation promise.
If you would like to consult with an advisor and discover whether it might be in your interests to claim with a leading solicitor, chat online, complete an online claim form or call today, on 0800 10 757 95.
We will strive to ensure you receive the medical negligence compensation you deserve.
