Medical negligence compensation and necrotising fasciitis

Necrotising fasciitis is a disease that is very rare, but very dangerous. This is not least because its effects may not be easily spotted, which can be one of the complicating factors in medical negligence compensation cases involving the condition. However, NHS guidelines do state that " All clinicians must be alert to the clinical signs of NF and if suspected, arrange urgent surgical referral."

This is because the condition still carries a high mortality rate, and may require serious excision of tissue, or potentially amputation, in the cases where the patient survives.

As the condition can spring from any of several bacteria colonising a wound, the infection can arise from many places. However, like MRSA and Clostridium difficile, necrotising fasciitis can be a hospital-acquired infection. Read more about Clostridium difficile.

The Lee Spark NF Foundation, set up by his mother following his death from this disease, offers support to people whose lives have been affected by necrotising fasciitis, and presents these warning signs:

Usually a minor trauma, skin opening or wound, (possibly Cellulitis or Ulcers) PLEASE NOTE, the wound does not necessarily appear infected.
Pain may develop at the site of the injury, or any other part of the body.
The pain is usually disproportionate to the injury and may start as something akin to a muscle pull, but becomes more and more painful.
Flu like symptoms begin to occur, such as diarrhoea, nausea, fever, confusion, dizziness, weakness, and general malaise.
Intense thirst occurs as the body becomes dehydrated.
The biggest symptom is all of these symptoms combined. In general you will probably feel worse than you've ever felt and not understand why.
The limb, or area of the body experiencing pain begins to swell, and will show a red flaky rash.

HOPEFULLY by this stage the patient will have received at least, some antibiotic treatment, as the internal symptoms may be advanced at this stage.

ADVANCED & CRITICAL SYMPTOMS
THE PATIENT MUST AT THIS STAGE BE ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL, IF NOT ALREADY.

The limb may begin to have a large, navy blue rash, that will become blisters filled with blackish fluid.
Blood pressure will drop severely. With low blood pressure, the blood is unable to deliver vital oxygen to the major organs.
The body begins to go into toxic shock from the toxins the bacteria are giving off.
Unconsciousness will occur as the body becomes too weak to fight off this infection.

Making a medical negligence claim
If you have received a personal injury through substandard medical care, you may well be able to make a claim for clinical negligence. The expert no win, no fee solicitors at YouClaim will be able to help you to work out if you have a good claim to make, and will be able to do so with sensitivity, and in confidence.

We charge no fees, win or lose, and we ensure that the unavoidable costs in a clinical negligence compensation claim are kept to the very minimum, and that you are reimbursed in a won case. Almost all of our cases are successful, and we promise to pass 100% compensation awarded to you, without taking a cut.

Our professional advisors are waiting now, to receive your claim form, chat to you online, or speak to you by phone on our free hotline, 0800 10 757 95. Your medical negligence claim will be in safe hands.