November 25th, 2008
A woman who was born with a heart defect is seeking compensation from the NHS trust she claims is responsible for her injuries.
Laura Orchard, 21, was treated at Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Bristol Royal Infirmary for three years after her birth in 1987.
However, she has now served a writ against the South West Strategic Health Authority, which is responsible for the hospital, claiming that the treatment provided caused her neurological and cardiological problems, the South Devon Herald Express reports.
She hopes to recover approximately £15,000 from the trust.
A spokesperson from the organisation said: "We can confirm that a claim has been made against the South West Strategic Health Authority."
It added that it is working towards resolving Ms Orchard’s case as soon as possible.
Claims for personal injury compensation can be made after receiving faulty goods or services, for injuries caused by tripping over paving stones and for injuries caused by errors in hospital treatment, among other things.
Anyone who feels they have such a claim is advised to seek a solicitor.
Tags: Bristol Royal Infirmary, Compensation Claim, Faulty Goods, Heart Defect, Herald Express, Nhs Trust, Orchard, Paving Stones, Personal Injury Compensation, Sick Children, Solicitor, South Devon, Spokesperson, Strategic Health Authority, Woman, Writ
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
November 5th, 2008
A man who was brain damaged at birth more than 30 years ago has won a battle for compensation.
Darren Anderson was born at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey in 1970, but his mother Audrey had suffered a haemorrhage and staff did not treat her appropriately, it was claimed.
The family also alleged that hospital staff mishandled Mr Anderson’s delivery.
His parents were given poor legal advice in 1973 and were told that it was too late to make a claim. However, they sought more accurate advice in 1999 and judges this week ruled Mr Anderson should be paid compensation.
East Coast NHS Strategic Health Authority were ruled to be 72.5 per cent liable for Mr Anderson’s brain damage and he will now be paid a lump sum of £1.3million and annual payments of more than £70,000 for the rest of his life.
The money will enable Mr Anderson to purchase a house in which he can live with carers, enabling his parents to have some respite from the care they have provided him.
Compensation for brain damage will often be more substantial than that for other injuries since it must cover care for the remainder of the person’s life in most circumstances.
Tags: Accurate Advice, Brain Damage, Brain Injury, Chertsey, Circumstances, East Coast, Haemorrhage, Hospital Staff, Legal Advice, Lump Sum, Mother Audrey, Mr Anderson, Nhs, Parents, Remainder, Respite From, S Hospital, St Peter, Strategic Health Authority
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
September 3rd, 2008
A hospital has admitted it was negligent in the care it provided to a pregnant woman and her baby 17 years ago.
Susan Cuthbert was admitted to Grimsby Maternity Hospital in 1991 for an emergency caesarean section.
She gave birth to Frances Ferrier nine weeks prematurely, reports the Grimsby Telegraph.
However, in the weeks following Frances’s birth, she was discovered to have developmental problems and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
She needs 24-hour care and has learning difficulties and vision problems.
Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority has now admitted the baby should not have been delivered so early and the two sides are now working on an agreement as to the amount of compensation the family should receive.
An NHS spokesperson said: "The Strategic Health Authority has admitted negligence for the failings in obstetric management which led to Frances’s injuries."
Around five per cent of cerebral palsy cases occur during birth, while 15 per cent develop after the child is born.
Tags: 17 Years, Caesarean Section, Cerebral Palsy, Clinical Negligence, Cuthbert, Ferrier, Grimsby Telegraph, Hospital Negligence, Learning Difficulties, Maternity Hospital, Nine Weeks, Pregnant Woman, Spokesperson, Strategic Health Authority, Vision Problems, Yorkshire
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
August 27th, 2008
The widow of a man who died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma has secured compensation of £200,000.
Jenny Rattray was awarded the sum in a settlement with her late husband James’ employer, the Basingstoke Gazette reports.
Mr Rattray had worked as a carpenter and joiner for the South Central Strategic Health Authority for nearly 30 years before being diagnosed with cancer in 2004.
He died as a result of the condition the following year at the age of 64.
In January 2008, the organisation admitted that he had been negligently exposed to asbestos through his employment.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: "The health authority is pleased that agreement has been reached with the family of Mr Rattray in relation to a claim while he was working at Park Prewett Hospital in Basingstoke."
According to the Health and Safety Executive, asbestos is now the greatest single cause of work-related deaths in the UK.
Tags: Asbestos Cancer, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Basingstoke Gazette, Being Diagnosed With Cancer, Cancer Mesothelioma, Carpenter, Deaths, Employment, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Jenny, Park Prewett, Rattray, Spokesperson, Strategic Health Authority, Wins
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
August 22nd, 2008
A man has won the right to take legal action against a hospital he accuses of medical negligence.
Jonathon Khairule suffers from cerebral palsy, a physical condition that affects movement.
He is wheelchair-bound and communicates by typing on a keyboard with his nose, the Coventry Telegraph reports.
Recently, the 27-year-old secured the right to bring a birth injury claim against the North West Strategic Health Authority, despite the fact that he did not take legal action within the normal time limit set in such cases.
He stated: "It wasn’t until I was in my early 20s that I started to do some investigating. I did not know if I would be able to claim compensation, I just wanted answers."
In July, the high court ruled Mr Khairule’s claim could proceed and he is now free to take action against the health authority.
Tags: Action Man, Birth Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Coventry, Keyboard, Medical Negligence, Strategic Health Authority, Telegraph, Time Limit, Wheelchair
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
