NHS Negligence refers to the failure of the National Health Service (NHS) or its staff to provide appropriate care, which results in harm to the patient. This can take many forms, such as misdiagnosis, delayed treatment.

Though many patients receive the highest levels of care through Britain's NHS, mistakes certainly can happen. Dealing with any sort of health condition can be difficult enough in itself, but if you feel that you have not received the adequate duty of care from your doctors or other health professionals, it can make the situation much worse.

If you have been, or are being, treated by the NHS, you are entitled to basic human rights - this is true whether you have visited your local GP, received treatment in hospital or visited a physiotherapist or counsellor.

If you believe that any of the doctors, nurses or therapists that have treated you have failed to provide adequate duty of care, or not followed regulations to keep you safe or prevent further pain or harm, you may be entitled to claim compensation from the NHS for any injuries or health issues you may have sustained as a result.

At Forbes, our expert team of solicitors can provide legal advice about a range of NHS negligence claims, including:

• Misdiagnosis, which can lead to incorrect or delayed treatment

• Dental negligence, causing damage to the teeth, gums and jaw

• Prescription errors, which can lead to delayed or incorrect treatment

• Sustained injuries during or after surgery

• Neonatal and birth injuries to either the mother or the child

• NHS 'never events', these include all serious medical errors that are completely preventable, such as the incorrect surgery being carried out.

At Forbes solicitors, our friendly team of expert medical negligence lawyers understand that NHS negligence claims are more than just money; they're about getting answers and finding a way to rebuild your life. So, if you've sustained health problems or injuries due to the negligence of medical professionals, our team of solicitors are on hand to advise you.

• Established liability and causation against a hospital trust for a bereaved family. The deceased was presented at the defendant trust hospital complaining of a headache. A CT was negligently reported as negative, however there was a clear basilar tip aneurysm. 5 years later following a further CT scan a large basilar aneurysm was diagnosed and the patient passed away as a result. The family received compensation of £400,000.

• Mismanagement of bowel obstruction causing death of the claimant following a failure to follow a management plan in a timely manner causing cardiac arrest. Family awarded £200,000 in compensation.

The Claimant was awarded £700,000 as a result of the NHS failing to prescribe bone saving medication after being prescribed steroids. The Claimant suffered from mucous membrane pemphigoid, an ocular condition. The treatment involved the prescription of Prednisolone, a powerful steroid. Osteoporosis is a common side effect.

It was alleged there was a failure monitor and manage the side effects for 10 months. It was the claimants case, the Prednisolone should have been reduced. No bone protection plan was prepared or DEXA scan arranged. The Claimant should have been prescribed Immunosuppressant agents, including cyclophosphamide which are known as steroid-sparing agents. A later private DEXA scan reported early signs of low bone density or osteopenia being caused by the uncontrolled steroid dose.

As a result, the Claimant began to experience acute back pain. Osteoporosis was diagnosed. As a result the Claimant suffered multiple vertebral fragility fractures which has left the Claimant significantly disabled need ground floor accommodation and life long help. Liability was admitted although the extent and cause of the Claimants difficulties were challenged. The claim settled for £700,000 without the need to go to court.

The Claimant succeeded in a case against Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for the death of their spouse, aged 64, who died whilst under their care (the ‘Deceased’). 

Initially, the Deceased presented to their General Practitioner with a number of complaints; this included leg and chest pain on exertion that significantly affected their mobility. On examination they had poor capillary return in their feet and the GP was unable to find any leg pulses. Between August 2019 to September 2019 the Deceased attended various hospital appointments reporting increased leg pain and decreased mobility, whereby further vascular tests were carried out. 

During late September 2019 the Deceased was admitted to Emergency Department (ED) at RPH with painful, swollen legs that had worsened whilst waiting for an appointment with the Vascular Service. The Deceased was seen on the morning ward round on 27th September 2019 with no concerns. However, the Deceased’s condition deteriorated. They were commenced on fluids.  Whilst under review, they had a second seizure and went into cardiac arrest. The Deceased had two further cardiac arrests, but resuscitation was unsuccessful.

The Claimant alleged that there were multiple failures to appreciate recent cardiology investigations, clinical symptoms and the significance of the same.  Red flags included  high blood pressure, the echocardiograms and increasing warnings and advice from the Deceased and the family. Forbes Solicitors were able to assist in proving that there was a delay in the cardiology review that was not picked up by the vascular team or in the Emergency Departments. The Vascular Team failed to follow the escalation policy for the deceased worsening ‘NEWS’ scores whilst in hospital and this led to a delay in monitoring and/or earlier medical intervention.  The results of the SIRI investigation confirm that it was agreed that the Deceased should have been admitted under Cardiology with input from the Vascular team; therefore the root cause of the failing was said to be that the Deceased had been admitted to the incorrect speciality.  They had reported chest pain and Shortness of breath which should have taken propriety over the swollen legs. This led to delays in medical attention for a life- threatening condition. 

As a consequence, the death was unnecessary and premature. The Deceased was not reviewed by a Cardiologist during the admission and there had been delays in the recognition and escalation of their deterioration on the 27th of September 2019.  Had there been successful resolution of the cardiac problem the Deceased would have received successful treatment for his vascular issues.   There were multi-disciplinary failings.

Forbes Solicitors were able to agree a settlement of £65,000 for the Claimant from the Defendant in this instance to cover pain suffering and loss of amenity for the Deceased, bereavement damages, funeral expenses, probate, loss of income dependency and past loss of service dependency.