February 5th, 2009
An NHS trust is to pay a woman compensation after her husband died from contracting legionnaires’ disease while in a hospital.
Paul Duncan, 41, was admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital in 2007 in order to have chemotherapy treatment for cancer, Eastbourne Today reports.
However, while in one of the hospital’s showers, he was exposed to bacteria and went on to contract legionnaires’ disease.
Mr Duncan died two months later. His widow Clare is seeking compensation from East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, alleging that he could have had a bone marrow transplant and lived for another five years if he had not been exposed to the bacteria.
She claims that the hospital did not take sufficient measures to ensure the showers were clean and had not installed legionella filters.
The trust has now agreed to a compensation settlement, although the exact amount has not yet been decided.
Earlier this month, it was reported that a man had won a court case against tour operator First Choice after contracting legionnaires’ disease while on holiday.
Tags: Bacteria, Bone Marrow Transplant, Cancer, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Treatment, Court Case, District General Hospital, East Sussex, Exposed, First Choice, Hospitals, Legionnaires Disease, Measures, Mr Duncan, Nhs Trust, Paul Duncan, Showers, Sussex, Tour Operator, Woman
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
January 7th, 2009
A woman is taking legal action against the operators of a chain of care homes after her father died in one of its branches due to the negligence of its staff.
William Taylor, 79, moved to Beechwood Park care home in Scotland after his Parkinson’s progressed and rendered him unable to live in sheltered accommodation, the Wee County News reports.
However, only six weeks after being admitted, he was taken to hospital with a blood infection resulting from bedsores and he died ten days later.
Mr Taylor’s family requested an investigation by the Care Commission and its subsequent report upheld all 15 of the complaints made against Beechwood.
It was found that Mr Taylor had not been given his Parkinson’s medication for several days at a time and that his assistance buzzer was consistently left out of his reach.
His daughter Moira Begg, 50, is now suing the care home in order to make sure the same thing does not happen to others.
"We [want] to highlight this for other families. I’d be really surprised if he’s the only person to suffer neglect in there," she commented.
Clinical negligence can occur in any environment where care is provided, not just hospitals. Anyone who has suffered as a result of this should seek legal advice as they may be eligible for compensation.
Tags: Bedsores, Beechwood Park, Begg, Blood Infection, Buzzer, Clinical Negligence, Hospitals, Legal Advice, Medication, Moira, Mr Taylor, Neglect, Parkinson, Scotland, Sheltered Accommodation, Six Weeks, Subsequent Report, Wee County News, William Taylor, Woman
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November 11th, 2008
The family of a man who died as a result of a hospital misdiagnosis are considering legal action, it has emerged.
Neville Caplan, 70, fell down some stairs while babysitting his grandchildren and fractured a vertebra.
He was taken to hospital, but was diagnosed with mild pneumonia, broken ribs and a sprained ankle.
Although he returned to hospital several times, four consultants and two radiologists at Wythenshawe Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital failed to spot his broken spine.
By the time he was correctly diagnosed three weeks later, it was too late to treat him and Mr Caplan died three days later.
Mr Caplan’s son Jeff, 51, said: "The coroner has identified a misdiagnosis in two of Manchester’s major hospitals. We are devastated by such an unnecessary death.
"It’s now in the hands of our lawyers. Compensation would be the next logical step."
Anyone who has endured pain and suffering as the result of a misdiagnosis, that would not have occurred had the diagnosis been correct, may be entitled to claim compensation and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Broken Ribs, Broken Spine, Caplan, Coroner, Diagnosis, General Hospital, Grandchildren, Hospitals, Legal Advice, Logical Step, Misdiagnosis, North Manchester, Pain And Suffering, Pneumonia, Radiologists, Several Times, Stairs, Unnecessary Death, Vertebra, Wythenshawe Hospital
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
November 3rd, 2008
A new campaign to ensure that hospitals and other NHS facilities follow safe working practices has been introduced in England.
The Safer Birth Initiative launched by the King’s Fund will begin in 2009 and will help midwives, obstetricians and managers improve safety precautions during the delivery of babies.
King’s Fund chief executive Niall Dickson said: "Prospective mothers and their families want to have confidence that maternity care is safe and, in general, services in this country are good. But we also know more could be done to ensure safe care at birth is a constant throughout the NHS."
It is hoped this will result in a reduction of cases in which babies are injured at birth.
Last month, it was reported that the family of Macauley Joyce, who suffers from spastic cerebral palsy as a result of being starved of oxygen at birth, is to receive compensation.
He will be paid £1.1 million in a lump sum, as well as yearly payments for the rest of his life.
Tags: 1 Million, Cerebral Palsy, Chief Executive, Clinical Negligence, Confidence, Delivery Of Babies, England, Hospitals, Initiative, Lump Sum, Macauley, Maternity Care, Nhs Facilities, Obstetricians, Oxygen, Safe Working Practices, Safety Precautions
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August 21st, 2008
A nursery nurse from the north-east of England has secured compensation after an accident at work left her with serious injuries.
Gillian Scott was awarded a total of £75,000 as a result of the incident. The sum was paid by her former employer the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which describes itself as one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK.
The 42-year-old was carrying a box through a cupboard door in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary when the contents of the container slipped and caused her to fall and hit a door.
She twisted her back as a result and has had to undergo spinal surgery.
Ms Scott stated: "I was off work for a long time and then had further relapses."
Despite the fact that her employer reduced her hours, she was unable to resume her role and is now considering alternative work.
Tags: Back Injury, Cupboard, Damages, Foundation Trust, Gillian, Hospitals, Leads, Long Time, Ms Scott, Newcastle, Nhs Trusts, North East Of England, Nursery Nurse, Resume, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Spinal Surgery, Wins
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
