Category: Clinical Negligence

Spine problems

Understanding Cauda Equina Syndrome

There are several different parts to the spine, each with its own name. Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) relates specifically to a particular one of them. The human vertebral column comprises 33 different vertebrae, five of which are known as lumbar articulating vertebrae- which actually come in pairs. The second to fifth lumbar nerve pairs and…

Sepsis

Raising Awareness of Sepsis

Sepsis is known as the ‘silent killer’. It is a rare but very serious complication of a routine infection, and can have fatal consequences if not diagnosed or if mis-diagnosed. Currently there is a “Just Ask: Could It Be Sepsis” campaign being promoted on a national basis- at Ison Harrison, through the experiences of our…

Hospital corridor

What Is An Extravasation Injury?

Extravasation is the leakage of certain harmful medicines into the body from an IV drip or injection into and through a vein. Some medicines will only cause slight damage and they are called irritants. Medicines that cause more serious damage are called vesicants. Medicines such as chemotherapy and penicillin, can be dangerous when they escape…

Baby

Newborn Jaundice – Signs, Symptoms & Treatment

Jaundice is a common and usually harmless condition in newborn babies. What is Jaundice? Jaundice is caused by the build-up of Bilirubin in the blood.  It can also be called Icterus. Bilirubin is a yellow substance that the body creates when it replaces old red blood cells. The liver helps break down Bilirubin so it…

Parents holding babies hand

Clinical Negligence Case Study – Baby T’s Story

Ms M and Mr T were expecting their first child, the pregnancy was considered low risk and although Ms M suffered from morning sickness throughout it was a normal and uneventful pregnancy. Ms M’s waters broke early on Saturday morning and she went straight to the hospital. Following an examination and another gush of waters…

Newborn baby

Hypoglycaemia (Low Blood Sugar) in Newborns and Birth Injury

Your baby’s sugar levels are regulated by their hormones, the key hormone being insulin. Insulin helps the body to store sugar (blood glucose) and release it when it is needed. Your baby’s blood sugar levels go down in the first few hours after birth, which is completely normal (Unicef 2013). Your baby gets their glucose…

Elderly lady lying in bed

Preventing Pressure Sores Could Be Easier Than You Think

Pressure sores, also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue. They can happen to anyone, but they usually affect people who are confined to bed or who sit in a chair or wheel chair for long periods of time as the main cause is prolonged pressure on the…

ERB's Palsy Group logo

Clinical Trial: Investigating Complications When Delivering Bigger Babies

Would delivering bigger babies early lead to less complications during birth? That’s the question being addressed by an upcoming clinical trial. Supported by the Erb’s Palsy Group, the three-and-a-half year trial will study 4,000 pregnant women to investigate whether delivering bigger babies earlier could prevent serious complications during labour and beyond. If a baby is…

Baby sleeping

Erb’s Palsy Clinical Negligence Case Study: Baby J

On the 21st September 1986 Mrs P was admitted to Hospital following a suspected rupturing of membranes followed by the onset of contractions. Mr & Mrs P were eagerly awaiting the birth of their second child having given birth to a healthy baby girl two years previously. Mrs P’s labour was slow to progress and…

Babies foot in palms

Erb’s Palsy Clinical Negligence Case Study: Ms W

Ison Harrison successfully recovered substantial damages on behalf of a young girl whose nerve was damaged at birth causing a form of palsy in her shoulder. This condition is known as Erb’s Palsy. During the antenatal period, it was noted that she was a large baby. Despite this, her mother’s labour progressed well until such…

Karen Hillyer

Q&A with Karen Hillyer, Chair of the Erb’s Palsy Group

With Erbs Palsy Awareness Week in full swing, we thought now was a good time to interview a lady who is helping to educate and inform about Erb’s Palsy and she kindly gave us some useful insight into how and what running the Erb’s Palsy Group really means. Hi Karen- please tell us about your background and how you…

Surgical nurses

Concerns Raised as to Fixed Fee Proposals in Clinical Negligence Claims

The Government have announced proposals to impose a cap on recoverable costs in Clinical Negligence cases, and ran a consultation until May 1st. James Thompson is a Solicitor in our Clinical Negligence department and here, he looks at the possible implications. What are the proposals? Currently, if a healthcare provider such as the NHS loses a clinical…

Vaccines Storage

Vaccines stored at incorrect temperatures

Simon Helliwell, a senior Chartered Legal Executive within our Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Team, has recently been instructed in a number of cases involving a Leeds GP surgery which, following a routine inspection by the Care Quality Commission, was found to have stored vaccines at an incorrect temperature- for up to 18 months. Parents…

Hip replacement surgery

Hip Replacement Surgery Claims – Ison Harrison Can Help

Hip replacement surgery is one of the most common medical procedures around. It is often seen as a lifeline to the patient and a critical factor in improving a person’s quality of life and ongoing mobility. Unfortunately, while the standards of surgery are generally excellent, problems can occur both privately and through the NHS, and…

Hospital Bed

Are Bed Sores a Sign of Neglect?

Bed sores (also known as pressure sores) affect millions of people who are admitted to hospital within the United Kingdom every year. They develop as a consequence of pressure being exerted on an area of skin, usually because of a patient’s reduced mobility, causing damage to the skin and the underlying tissue due to a…

Doctor holding baby

​Clinical Negligence Case Study: Baby E’s Story

As 2007 drew to a close, Mr and Mrs S were celebrating the birth of their beautiful baby daughter who was perfect in every way. Tragically, this dream was shattered when, having developed mild jaundice which the Doctors failed to treat promptly, the levels of bilirubin in Baby E’s blood stream built up to such…

Baby in incubator

Ison Harrison Secures Settlement of Over £6.7m In Leeds Clinical Negligence Case

In 2014, Personal Injury Partner, Iain Oliver from Ison Harrison, secured a financial settlement of £3,450,000 for his client, plus additional future payments for nursing care which amount to approximately £3,250,000. Iain has 22 years experience with high value injury claims enabling him to successfully represent hundreds of accident victims, his diligence proving to be of…

Newborn baby holding finger

Over 1,300 babies left dead or maimed after NHS errors

Today it has been publicised that over £1bn was paid last year by the NHS in compensation to families of babies who died or were left with serious brain injuries due to negligence during childbirth. Over the last decade this sum has been increased by over £488 million. Figures that were obtained by the Times…

Dentistry

NHS Contract Reform: Is the die cast?

The Department of Health has recently published what it calls its “prototype approach” i.e. a more advanced stage of testing of a new possible NHS Dental Contract. As an overview the prototype is supposed to be a blend of capitation, quality and activity payments. Path to Date According to the Department of Health the principles…

Hospital corridor

Seven year old girl awarded £10m in damages from King’s College Hospital Trust

Eva Totham, was starved of oxygen at birth in 2007 and now suffers from severe cerebral palsy. The compensation pay-out of £10.1m was awarded to cover Eva’s past and future care, as she is now entirely dependent on others for all aspects of day-to-day living. This was also to cover her loss of earnings as it…

CQC: a Fresh Start???

CQC: a Fresh Start???

The CQC has published a document entitled “A fresh start for the regulation and inspection of primary care dental services” in which the CQC sets out its “early thinking” regarding a new inspection and monitoring approach for dental practices. This note summarises the key points from that document. Overview The CQC reports that, from the…

How to make a claim for medical negligence

How to make a claim for medical negligence

Time limits It is important that that you speak to a solicitor as soon as possible as there are time limits which apply to pursuing a claim.  Court Proceedings need to be issued within 3 years of the negligence or within 3 years of the date that you become aware of the negligence.  In cases…

Duty of Candour

Duty of Candour

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced radical changes in how the NHS will deal with medical accidents in England. Under a ‘duty of candour’ proposal healthcare providers must openly disclose when moderate or severe harm occurs as a result of a medical accident, provide an apology along with all relevant information such as medical records…

Medical Negligence in Leeds and Wakefield

Medical Negligence in Leeds and Wakefield

Settlements for medical negligence cases in Leeds and Wakefield have cost nearly £45m. Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act have shown the extent of damages awarded for clinical negligence between 2010 to 2013. The hospitals treat 1.5m patients annually and are keen to stress the point. However there have been a number of…

Standards of Care in GP Practices

Standards of Care in GP Practices

Findings highlight the poor standard of care thousands of patients are forced to endure. The report looked at over 1000 practices, around 12% of UK surgeries, and found failings at 300 of these. In the most serious cases vaccines where found out of date, patients brought their own seats for extensive waiting room times along…

Home Circumcisions present a significant risk

Home Circumcisions present a significant risk

The secretary of the British Association of Paediatric Urologists has expressed concern that people with limited experience are carrying out home circumcisions. Felim Murphy stated “unfortunately children have died in the last number of years in Britain and Ireland from circumcision-related complications.” Although healthcare workers have to be registered with the Care Quality Commission before…

Patients going blind because of delays in treatment

Patients going blind because of delays in treatment

Research found that clinics were over stretched and unable to cope. In a poll of 172 medical staff working in eye clinics, over 80% said their department had insufficient capacity to meet demand, with 37% believing patients are sometimes losing their sight unnecessarily because of delayed treatment, and 4% believe this to be a regular…

Report on NHS England Maternity Services

Report on NHS England Maternity Services

A recent report by the National Audit Office has uncovered a number of facts about NHS maternity services in England The most concerning fact is that 1 in every 133 babies born die within days of birth or are still born. Although this figure has reduced from previous years it is higher than other areas…

Are our medical records a commodity?

Are our medical records a commodity?

Are our medical records a commodity? GPs are being encouraged by the government to share medical records with so called ‘safe havens’ such as private health care providers and insurers but who will this benefit? Perhaps the simple answer is we just don’t know, however you can be sure that there is significant commercial advantage…

Man awarded £20,000.00 for loss of testicle

Man awarded £20,000.00 for loss of testicle

A 25 year old man attended A&E with severe pain in his testicle. He was given pain relief and told that since there were several possible causes an ultrasound scan would be performed early that afternoon. The scan was not carried out until the following day, when testicular torsion was diagnosed. Due to the delay…

Elderly lady awarded £35,000.00 following loss of useful vision

Elderly lady awarded £35,000.00 following loss of useful vision

A 76 year old lady was referred to hospital due to a deterioration in her vision, which was already restricted. There was a two month delay in making the correct diagnosis, and a further delay of nine months in beginning treatment. In the meantime the deterioration continued so she lost almost all useful vision and…

Girl awarded £95,000 after losing sight in one eye

Girl awarded £95,000 after losing sight in one eye

9 year old girl attended A&E after sustaining an injury to her eye. Following an examination her parents were told that they surface of the eye was scratched and were given ointment to apply. Three days later she returned to A&E where it was confirmed that the eye had been perforated. She had emergency surgery…

Case Settled – Vision restriction

Case Settled – Vision restriction

76 year old lady referred to hospital due to deterioration in her vision, which was already restricted. There was a two month delay in making the correct diagnosis, and a further delay of nine months in beginning treatment. In the meantime the deterioration continued so she lost almost all useful vision and was no longer…

Family awarded £21,500 after man dies of haemothorax following broken ribs

Family awarded £21,500 after man dies of haemothorax following broken ribs

A 44 year old man saw his GP a few days after being discharged from hospital following treatment for broken ribs. Although he was complaining of difficulty breathing and severe pain the GP failed to listen to or examine his chest. The following day he collapsed and died in his mother’s car on the way…

Diabetic awarded £15,000 after having his big toe amputated

Diabetic awarded £15,000 after having his big toe amputated

50 year old diabetic man developed an infection in his big toe. His GP failed to prescribe antibiotics and delayed in referring him to hospital until amputation was unavoidable. This case has recently been settled by an experienced member of our Clinical Negligence team. For similar cases, or any other types of Clinical Negligence claims,…

Contraceptive Implants hit by bad press

Contraceptive Implants hit by bad press

It has recently been revealed that more than 500 women in the UK using the Implanon contraceptive implant became pregnant which is understood to be  99% safe. A number of those women subsequently miscarried. Others elected to terminate the pregnancy and many have experienced relationship breakdown and psychological problems.  It is estimated that over 1…