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 »
October 10th, 2008
A woman has issued a high court writ on behalf of her son who was injured at birth.
Gillian Wick claims that, during a difficult delivery, staff at Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot pulled too hard on Jack Wicks’ head.
This, she alleges, caused Erb’s Palsy – paralysis of the arm caused by injury to the upper group of the arm’s main nerves.
Jack, now nine, has reduced motion in his right arm, making tasks such as getting dressed difficult, GetBracknell.co.uk reports.
He has already had to undergo major operations on his arm and is likely to need more treatment in the future.
Ms Wicks is claiming £300,000 on Jack’s behalf and the hospital has agreed to a breach of duty through "inappropriate traction", although the two sides are yet to agree upon how much compensation will be paid to Jack.
If an out of court settlement has not been reached soon, judges at the high court will make a decision as to the sum.
Tags: Ascot, Birth Injury, Breach Of Duty, Court Settlement, Delivery Staff, Gillian, Nerves, Paralysis, Right Arm, Wick, Wicks, Woman, Writ
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
September 18th, 2008
A widow has issued a high court writ against an NHS trust following the death of her husband.
Yolanda Arnold from Brighton launched the legal action against the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust – which claims to treat over half a million patients a year – following Albert Hodge’s death in 2005.
Mr Arnold, 38, had become ill with an eye inflammation in February 2004 and was treated; however, he contracted chickenpox in August 2005, the Argus reports.
He was admitted to and discharged from hospital, but continued to suffer pains in his chest and stomach and began to cough up blood.
Although he was later readmitted to hospital, Mr Arnold had developed blood clots and renal failure and died on August 28th.
Mrs Arnold claims that the hospital should have realised his immune system had been weakened by steroids prescribed for the eye inflammation and was therefore negligent in that it did not provide anti-viral drugs.
The high court writ is for compensation of up to £300,000, which Mrs Arnold claims should be paid by the trust because it previously admitted a breach of duty.
A spokesperson for the NHS declined to comment.
Tags: Anti Viral Drugs, Argus, Blood Clots, Breach Of Duty, Brighton, Chickenpox, Eye Inflammation, Half A Million, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Immune System, Mr Arnold, Renal Failure, Spokesperson, Steroids, Stomach, Sussex, Sussex University, University Hospitals Nhs Trust, Writ
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September 15th, 2008
A woman whose husband contracted the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma has been awarded compensation following his death.
Ronald Rumney, 71, died in 2007 only a few weeks after his diagnosis, the News and Star reports.
He had worked at British Nuclear Fields in Sellafield for 40 years, which is where he claimed he was exposed to the deadly building material.
His widow Norma issued a high court writ in order to continue the legal action after his death, according to Mr Rumney’s wishes.
The writ claimed he died 12.5 years earlier than he should have done.
"He knew he had been exposed to asbestos at Sellafield and was determined that justice be done. Unfortunately his tumour was so aggressive he died shortly afterwards and I vowed to continue the fight," Ms Rumney said.
His widow has now been paid an unspecified amount of compensation, although it is believed to be a six-figure sum.
There was no comment from British Nuclear Fuels.
If a person can prove they were exposed to asbestos at their place of work, they may be able to make a claim for compensation as a result.
In the UK a personal injury compensation claim for an asbestos-related disease or asbestos-related illness has to be started within three years of the date a person is informed of their condition by an appropriately qualified doctor.
Tags: Asbestos Cancer, Asbestos Mesothelioma, Asbestos Related Disease, British Nuclear Fuels, Building Material, Cancer Death, Cancer Mesothelioma, Diagnosis, Figure Sum, Norma, Nuclear Fields, Personal Injury Compensation, Personal Injury Compensation Claim, Rumney, Sellafield, Six Figure, Star Reports, Tumour, Unspecified Amount, Writ
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
September 8th, 2008
An electrician has launched a bid to claim compensation against his former employers after a fall cost him his job.
David Rolfe, 50, did not clip the right ring to his safety harness when carrying out work from a telegraph pole in 2006.
The ring did not take his weight and he fell, suffering crushed vertebrae and a head injury, reports the Oxford Mail.
Mr Rolfe has accused Scottish and Southern Energy of being negligent and failing to supervise him properly.
"That fall lost me a job I’d held for 32 years. They said I broke health and safety rules," he commented.
A spokesperson for Scottish and Southern Energy said the company could confirm a compensation claim has been lodged, but declined to comment further.
There is legislation in place to protect employees, such as the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The Health and Safety Executive also produces guides such as Safe Use of Ladders and Stepladders.
Tags: Bid, Compensation Claim, Crushed Vertebrae, Electrician, Head Injury, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Job, Legislation, Oxford Mail, Safe Use Of Ladders, Safety Harness, Safety Rules, Southern Energy, Spokesperson, Stepladders, Telegraph Pole, Writ
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
