February 27th, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to care providers that they must ensure the safety of their patients.
Its warning comes after a man staying at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield tried to open a window in May 2004.
Although the window was not supposed to open more than ten centimetres, it had not been properly maintained and swung open fully.
The 18-year-old fell 12 metres to the floor below, suffering a serious internal injury and several fractures.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was fined for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
HSE inspector Kirsty Welsh said hospitals need to ensure that vulnerable people are not put at risk.
"The risk of falls from windows is well-known in the care sector. Hospitals have a responsibility to ensure they have preventative measures put in place," she added.
Anyone who is injured within a hospital or care home may be able to claim personal injury compensation and should seek the advice of a solicitor within three years of the incident.
Tags: 18 Year Old, Breaches, Care Sector, Foundation Trust, Fractures, Health And Safety, Health And Safety At Work, Health And Safety At Work Act, Health And Safety At Work Act 1974, Health And Safety Executive, Kirsty, Northern General Hospital, Personal Injury Compensation, Preventative Measures, Risk, Safety At Work, Sheffield, Solicitor, Teaching Hospitals, Welsh
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
February 25th, 2009
A man who fought during World War II has said he may seek compensation after contracting both Clostridium difficile (C diff) and MRSA from stays in two different hospitals in Derbyshire.
Albert Marriott, 90, was taken to Clay Cross Hospital in June 2007 after a fall at home, the Daily Mail reports.
However, he developed an infection in his pancreas and was then struck down by the first of the superbugs.
Mr Marriott also sustained a fractured pelvis after falling out of bed in the Royal Chesterfield Hospital.
His daughter, Sue Davies, said that 20 months after first going into hospital, he has been left a shadow of his former self, is unable to get dressed and is unlikely to get better.
She said she has put in formal complaints to both hospitals and that the family is considering assisting Mr Marriott with a compensation claim.
"Hospital is a place you go in to be looked after, not where you go to get fractures and infections," Ms Davies commented.
Both hospitals said they are investigating the matter.
The testing of all hospital inpatients over the age of 65 with diarrhoea for C diff became a compulsory NHS practice in January 2008, when it became evident that many outbreaks were being disguised as Noroflu in the UK by hospital risk managers.
Tags: C Diff, Clay Cross, Clostridium Difficile, Compensation Claim, Cross Hospital, Daily Mail, Diarrhoea, Formal Complaints, Fractured Pelvis, Fractures, Hospital Inpatients, Hospital Superbugs, Mail Reports, Marriott, Ms Davies, Pancreas, Risk Managers, Sue Davies, War Veteran, World War Ii
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
October 8th, 2008
A young woman who was seriously hurt in a car crash is to sue the man who was driving the car.
Stephanie Stratton, now 21, was a passenger in the Honda Civic being driven by Adam Roberts of Campbell Crescent in 2006.
However, he lost control of the vehicle after pulling the handbrake at 55 miles per hour, the East Grinstead Observer reports.
The car overturned and Ms Stratton suffered facial injuries and fractures.
She had to have brain surgery and a titanium plate implanted into her skull. She is also nearly blind and has epilepsy.
Since the accident, Ms Stratton needs supervision as she still has cognitive and communication problems.
Through her father Anthony, Ms Stratton is now suing Mr Roberts for an unspecified sum of compensation.
A common misconception when it comes to claiming compensation after an accident is that a person who was in the car that caused the accident cannot make a claim for injuries suffered.
This is untrue, as long as the person making the claim was not the one behind the wheel at the time of the accident.
It is perfectly legitimate to claim against the driver, as it is their responsibility to drive safely.
Tags: Adam Roberts, Brain Surgery, Car Crash, Claiming Compensation, Common Misconception, Communication Problems, Crescent, East Grinstead Observer, Epilepsy, Facial Injuries, Fractures, Handbrake, Honda, Honda Civic, Miles Per Hour, Skull, Stephanie, Stratton, Titanium Plate, Young Woman
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
August 20th, 2008
A man who was involved in a road accident eight years ago has been awarded compensation.
Police administrator Chris Chambers sustained fractures to his right leg, forearm and wrists, ligament damage to his knee and cuts and bruises to his neck, chest and face when he was struck by an uninsured driver in December 1999.
The motorist in question was travelling on the wrong side of the road when the collision occurred, the Star reports.
Mr Chambers, who required extensive medical treatment for his injuries, had now been awarded £90,000 by the Motor Insurance Bureau, which was established in 1946 to compensate the victims of uninsured and untraced drivers.
The 34-year-old stated: "My medical situation has continued to impact on my life due to the need for multiple operations and long-term rehabilitation."
Meanwhile, the other motorist was issued a fine after being convicted of driving without due care and attention.
Tags: Accident Victim, Chris Chambers, Cuts And Bruises, Damages, Driving Without Due Care And Attention, Forearm, Fractures, Insurance, Ligament Damage, Medical Situation, Medical Treatment, Motor Insurance Bureau, Police Administrator, Road Accident, Term Rehabilitation, Uninsured Driver, Wrong Side Of The Road
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
August 7th, 2008
A man who suffered serious injuries after being struck by a school bus has been awarded a payout of £365,000 in an out-of-court settlement with Islington borough council.
John Lewis suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis after being crushed between the bus and another vehicle in June 2004, 24dash reports.
As a result, the 32-year-old was forced to spend three weeks in traction, has developed osteoarthritis and will need a hip replacement, a spokesperson for his legal team revealed.
Mr Lewis stated: "The incident has had a critical impact on my life. I lost my job, my active lifestyle and my relationship. The physical and psychological damages have been devastating and it’s been difficult getting my life back on track."
He has now begun working for the British Red Cross, a volunteer-led organisation which was established over 135 years ago and aims to help people in crisis.
Tags: 24dash, British Red Cross, Court Settlement, Critical Impact, Fractures, Hip Replacement, Islington Borough Council, Job, John Lewis, Lifestyle, Osteoarthritis, Pelvis, Psychological Damages, Relationship, School Bus, Spokesperson, Traction, Volunteer
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
