We’re very lucky to have the NHS in this country, and the huge numbers of devoted doctors and nurses who do all in their power to make sure any time spent in hospital is as painless as possible, however sometimes things go wrong.
People do make mistakes, machines can malfunction, and sometimes diagnoses are made which aren’t what they seem. Sometimes these issues are very small and can be dealt with through an explanation or even just an apology, but sometimes it is necessary to take these situations further. In the event of an issue, you might want to make sure it doesn’t happen again, perhaps to have changes made to the law so that others don’t suffer the same way you or your loved one did. In some situations however the outcome of the issue is so stark that compensation must be sought to try and help deal with the outcome of the situation.
If this is the case, you should contact a solicitor who will help you get hold of medical records, get independent and unbiased medical opinions about the causes, and establish whether or not you have a potential claim for medical negligence and the possibility of an award of compensation.
Why is compensation awarded?
Compensation is awarded to give a person the financial resources to get appropriate support and care and to exercise choice in this provision.
Compensation aims to place the disabled person in the position they would have been in had the negligence not happened, although this is clearly impossible for someone whose impairment will affect every aspect of daily living for the rest of their life.
How is the amount of compensation calculated?
Future expenses specific to the individual’s need are calculated following advice from a range of experts such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, architects, accountants, employment consultants, rehabilitation consultants and others.
The amount awarded should reflect:
- The capital and annual cost of appropriate accommodation and adapting accommodation to meet the person’s needs
- The cost of providing adequate care and specialist equipment
- Loss of earnings where employment potential is compromised
- Transport and mobility aids
- Social and leisure pursuits
- Other factors relevant to each specific case such as the cost of continuing education, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy
Who to contact?
Our solicitors are specialists in medical and clinical negligence cases – if you or someone you love has been affected then contact us today.