September 10th, 2009
Workers who suffer from Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) have been advised to seek legal advice about the possibility of making a compensation claim.
The condition, commonly known as vibration white finger, affects the blood vessels, nerves and muscles in the hands and wrists, leading to numbness and loss of movement, and often causing the fingers to change colour.
It is often the result of working with vibrating tools such as drills and chain saws.
Writing for the Daily Mail, GP Martin Scurr explained that HAVS is a recognised industrial disease, so companies should have health and safety procedures, such as providing gloves and time limits on the use of vibrating machinery, in place.
He added that "negligence is unacceptable" and recommended that anyone who has developed work-related HAVS should look into making a compensation claim.
Last month, Anthony Barry, a former toolmaker from St Helens, received £8,500 in compensation after developing the condition as a result of working with vibrating tools while employed by Ford Motor Company.
Mr Barry said his former employer had not warned him about the dangers of working with such equipment.
Tags: Arm Vibration Syndrome, Blood Vessels, Chain Saws, Compensation Claim, Compensation Claims, Daily Mail, Ford Motor, Ford Motor Company, Hand Arm Vibration, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Procedures, Legal Advice, Negligence, Nerves, Numbness, Scurr, St Helens, Time Limits, Toolmaker, Vibration White Finger
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September 3rd, 2009
A man who was left permanently disabled because a medical condition was left untreated is to receive compensation for his suffering.
Anthony Venner was admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital in February 2005 with suspected compression of the nerves in his spinal cord, the Rye and Battle Observer reports.
Despite the condition, also known as cauda equina syndrome, being classed as an emergency, Mr Venner was not transferred to a hospital with MRI facilities until 20:30 GMT the following day.
The scan was then delayed until the day after. By the time the victim was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome, he had already suffered permanent back damage, urinary and bowel difficulties and loss of sensation in his legs.
Mr Venner took legal action against the NHS trust responsible for both hospitals. Although they denied liability, a settlement of £72,500 has now been reached for the patient to cover his long-term care.
According to e-MedicineHealth.com, cauda equina syndrome is considered a surgical emergency and should be treated as soon as possible.
Tags: District General Hospital, Eastbourne District General Hospital, February 2005, Legs, Long Term Care, Loss Of Sensation, Medical Condition, Mri Facilities, Nerves, Nhs Hospitals, Nhs Trust, Observer Reports, Spinal Cord, Suffering, Surgical Emergency, Venner
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
February 19th, 2009
A Welsh teenager who suffers from Erb’s palsy as a result of an injury sustained during her birth is to receive compensation.
Harriet Frobisher, now 15, was born at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan in 1994, the BBC reports.
However, during the delivery, Harriet became stuck in the birth canal. The family claimed that hospital staff had not followed correct procedures to resolve this and had instead tried to pull Harriet free.
Consequently, the nerves in her neck were stretched and she developed Erb’s palsy, which is a preventable birth defect that affects the shoulder, arm and hand. Her right arm now has severely limited movement.
Her parents, Gerry and Sharon Frobisher, launched legal action on her behalf in 2007 and the North Wales NHS Trust has now agreed to a settlement without admitting liability.
The exact sum of compensation is not known, but it is believed to be six figures.
Tags: Bbc, Birth Canal, Birth Defect, Erb S Palsy, Hospital Staff, Nerves, Nhs Trust, North Wales, Parents, Right Arm, Shoulder Arm, Six Figures, Sufferer, Teenager, Welsh
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January 29th, 2009
A child who was injured at birth has received a compensation settlement from an NHS trust in the high court.
Jacob Keogh, now nine, was born at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Welwyn Garden City in 1999.
However, his delivery went wrong and he suffered Erb’s Palsy, leaving him permanently disabled and in need of long-term care.
Through his mother, he sued the East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and in a new development, he has now secured a payout of £110,848.
The NHS trust did not admit liability, but agreed to the settlement on a compromise basis. The judge approved the settlement, adding that there had been significant issues between the two sides.
Erb’s Palsy is a condition that mainly occurs from birth trauma and can affect one or all five of the nerves that supply movement and feeling to the arm.
Where the nerve damage is severe, scar tissue can prevent the nerve from ever healing and permanent disability will ensue, the Erb’s Palsy Group attests.
Tags: Amp, Birth Trauma, Compromise, Damages, Disability, Elizabeth Ii, Garden City, Jacob, Keogh, Long Term Care, Nerve Damage, Nerves, Nhs Trust, North Hertfordshire, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth Ii, Queen Elizabeth Ii Hospital, Scar Tissue
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December 10th, 2008
A man who suffered permanent injury to his hand after being exposed to vibrating power tools has been paid compensation.
Mark Twinn, 51, was employed by a London borough council, where he worked with compressors and jackhammers for up to five hours a day, the Workplace Law Network reports.
He took legal action against the council and has now been awarded £5,000 in an out of court settlement for his Vibration White Finger, which leads to leads to painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves, joints and muscles of the hands and arms.
"These problems are worse in the winter and brought on by the cold. I struggle to keep my fingers warm in the winter and they become very stiff," Mr Twinn commented on his symptoms.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, around five million workers in the UK are exposed to Hand Arm Vibration at work.
Tags: Blood Vessels, Compressors, Court Settlement, Fingers, Hand Arm Vibration, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Jackhammers, Joints, London Borough Council, Muscles, Nerves, Power Tools, Vibration White Finger, Workplace Law
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