News

30 July 2010
Unsafe Cardiac Unit caused death of four babies
An external review published yesterday has found that four babies died within three months of each other after being operated on by a surgeon who was appointed to raise patient numbers at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The report has been written by Dr Bill Kirkup, the director of clinical standards at the South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA).
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29 July 2010
Hospital negligence - £25,000 compensation recovered for delay in diagnosing fractured wrist
A woman has received £25,000 in compensation. The A&E department diagnosed a sprained wrist and failed to carry out x-rays which would have identified the woman had fractured her wrist.
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29 July 2010
Paraplegic James Wood to swim Channel
"Life does not stop because you are paralysed and there is no better example of that than doing this.” says 39 year old paraplegic James Wood from Northampton who is hoping to become the first European with a fractured spine to swim across the English Channel.
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28 July 2010
Midwife struck off for death of baby
In November 2005, baby Lily died after a midwife failed to notice a drop in Lily’s heartbeat. As a result Lily was left struggling to survive in her mother’s womb, until a caesarean section was ordered some four hours later.
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27 July 2010
Increased risk of newborn death if born out of hours
Latest research suggests that babies born out of hours i.e. at night or at the weekend are at a greater risk of dying than those born within normal working hours.
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22 July 2010
Doctors negligence - doctors feel unprepared to report incompetent colleagues
Over a third of US doctors who responded to a survey did not agree it was their responsibility to report colleagues who were incompetent or impaired.
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22 July 2010
Drop in number of hospital doctors and nurses will impact on patient care
Statistics from the NHS Information Centre show the number of doctors and nurses in NHS hospitals is falling. Despite Government promises that frontline staff will be protected as health trusts endeavour to find £20 billion of 'efficiency savings' by 2014, the latest data suggests otherwise.
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22 July 2010
New guidance issued for treatment and care of stroke patients
Approximately 150,000 people in the UK suffer a stroke and 67,000 people die as a result every year. New comprehensive guidance about the care of stroke has been issued.
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20 July 2010
Care Quality Commission's investigation into GP out-of-hours provider Take Care Now
The Care Quality Commission has published its findings following an investigation into Take Care Now, the GP out-of-hours provider. The report reveals that Take Care Now did not act on previous warnings about the use of diamorphine.
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15 July 2010
Welsh Assembly Redress Scheme
The NHS Redress (Wales) Measure was the first measure to pass through the Welsh Assembly. It is designed to reform the way the NHS handles complaints and claims for compensation but so far stakeholders have given it a lukewarm reception. The health minister has been forced to give further thought to some of the underlying principles of the scheme.
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14 July 2010
Negligent hospital care resulted in elderly woman requiring hip replacement after fall
An 80 year old woman was recently paid £100k in compensation after suffering a hip fracture and head injury whilst being cared for in hospital following surgery.
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14 July 2010
Poor nursing care and pressure ulcers
Pressure ulcers can cause serious pain and severe harm to patients and cost the NHS billions of pounds each year to treat. Yet in the majority of cases they can be prevented if simple measures are followed.
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14 July 2010
Research suggests cooling treatment can reduce baby brain damage
Babies who have been starved of oxygen at birth have much less risk of suffering brain damage if they are given mild hypothermia.
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13 July 2010
Care lacking for bereaved parents
A recent survey commissioned by the stillbirth charity Sands has found that more than half of UK maternity units are still lacking a dedicated bereavement support midwife
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13 July 2010
For every 4 Lottory millionaires, the NHS pays someone £1m in compensation for negligent care
More than 600 people have received payouts of £1million-plus in damages for injuries caused by negligent NHS care.
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12 July 2010
£45k compensation for woman whose bladder was punctured by a negligent surgeon during appendicectomy operation
A 27 year old woman has recently been awarded £45,000 after she suffered a puncture to her bladder during an operation to remove her appendix.
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12 July 2010
Birth injuries are the reason behind the massive NHS medical negligence compensation bill
Negligent care during maternity has been identified as the common cause of the huge medical negligence compensation payouts made by the NHS in recent years.
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09 July 2010
APIL reaches 20-year milestone
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers celebrated 20 years of fighting for the rights of injured people this week.
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09 July 2010
Welsh neonatal units 'put vulnerable babies at risk'
An assembly health committee report has found that vulnerable babies in Wales are at risk from understaffed, ill-equipped and over-capacity hospital facilities.
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06 July 2010
Scope launches new web based evaluation tool
Celebrate Every Step is an exciting new web-based tool from Scope that will enable practitioners and parents to celebrate and track the progress of young children with physical, sensory and learning needs.
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05 July 2010
£200k compensation for woman left with permanent anal incontinence after mis-managed birth injury
A 38 year old woman received £200k in compensation after hospital staff were negligent in the management of the delivery of her baby leaving her with permanent anal incontinence.
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30 June 2010
Cerebral Palsy caused by delayed birth - multimillion-pound compensation award
A six-year-old Wearside boy has been awarded multimillion-pound damages after mistakes at his birth left him severely disabled.
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30 June 2010
Cerebral Palsy compensation - £4 million payout for six-year-old girl starved of oxygen at birth
A six-year-old Kidderminster girl has been awarded a £4 million compensation payout after complications during her birth left her severely disabled.
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25 June 2010
Can bowel problems after childbirth be caused by medical negligence?
Up to one in every 10 new mums have bowel problems as a result of childbirth. But many do not know that they can get help, or where to go.
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24 June 2010
Birth Injury claim settles for £1.9 million lump sum plus annual payments for life
An 11 year old girl has been awarded £1.9 million in compensation as a lump sum plus significant additional annual payments after medical staff delayed in delivering her in November 1997. As a result she suffered asymmetric mixed spastic dystonic tetraplegia and will never be functionally independent.
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24 June 2010
Major deficiencies found in the way hospitals provide artificial nutrition to sick babies
The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death has reported major shortcomings in the way artificial nutrition is given to sick and premature babies. Problems were found in three quarters of the intravenous feeding it cases examined.
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21 June 2010
Paul Maynard - the first MP with cerebral palsy to be elected to the Houses of Parliament
Boyes Turner extends warm congratulations to Paul Maynard the new MP for Blackpool North who we believe is the first MP with cerebral palsy to be elected to the Houses of Parliament. He writes an interesting article about the election, his CP and his thoughts about disability and making a difference in the June edition of 'Disability Now'.
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21 June 2010
Surgery targets endanger patient safety, failings in patient care
Findings from a recent survey suggest that pressures over hospital budgets and targets may be damaging patient safety in operating theatres.
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15 June 2010
Misdiagnosis: £75k clinical negligence compensation settlement over teenager’s death
A teenager’s family has been awarded £75k in compensation after he was mistakenly diagnosed with viral meningitis and later died of a brain haemorrhage.
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09 June 2010
£900k lump sum plus £176k per year compensation after hospital's failure to diagnose and treat spinal abcess left 73 year old tetraplegic
A 73 year old woman received £900k in medical negligence compensation as a lump sum, plus payments of £176k per year thereafter following a hospital's failure to diagnose and treat a spinal abscess. As a result she became tetraplegic, was incontinent, relied on the use of a wheelchair and had to live in a care home.
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08 June 2010
£35k compensation for man after hospital failed to appropriately treat pressure sore
A man who had to endure a number of extensive surgical procedures and a prolonged period of pain and suffering succeeded in a medical negligence claim against a hospital trust after it was failed to adequately treat his gangrenous pressure sore without delay.
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02 June 2010
Negligent paediatric surgeon in Manchester
Hospital chiefs face calls for an inquiry after claims they ignored repeated warnings about the competence of a paediatric surgeon found guilty of misconduct.
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28 May 2010
Teenage thrombosis and blood clots - more common than we realise
A healthy 19 year old girl was found to have three blood clots in her leg after her teacher urged her to go to the Doctors. She had thought she was too young to have blood clots and could have died.
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26 May 2010
£40k compensation for grade four pressure sore
£40k in compensation was awarded to the estate of a deceased woman who had suffered a grade four pressure sore prior to her death as a result of hospital negligence.
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20 May 2010
New guidelines introduced: jaundice and kernicterus in new born babies
The health watchdog has recommended that all newborns with suspected jaundice should be given a blood test to check for this condition, which can in rare cases be fatal.
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17 May 2010
£235k in compensation - failure to diagnose tear caused by childbirth
A 25-year-old woman received £235k in compensation after a hospital failed to diagnose that she had torn her anal sphincter whilst delivering her child in April 2004.
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13 May 2010
BMA study says NHS doctors have whistle-blowing fear
Many hospital doctors are too scared to raise concerns about patient care or staff behaviour in case it affects their career, according to a survey which found 40% of the 384 doctors questioned do not report issues of concern.
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07 May 2010
Family of tetraplegic cerebral palsy sufferer secures over £6 million in compensation
The family of a girl who suffers from tetraplegic cerebral palsy as a result of mistakes made during her birth has been awarded in excess of £6 million in compensation.
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07 May 2010
Cerebral Palsy Baby - Parents "robbed of the baby we should have had"
As little Ruby Hanson celebrates her first birthday today, her parents are coming to terms with the cerebral palsy they believe was the result of medical negligence when she was born at North Devon District Hospital.
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07 May 2010
Parents awarded compensation after son born with cerebral palsy after hospital error
A mother whose son was starved of oxygen at birth leaving him disabled has been granted compensation to pay for his care.
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07 May 2010
Nurses cover for night GPs
A Daily Mail survey reveals that out-of-hours care on the NHS is now so bad that thousands of patients are being treated by nurses instead of doctors because they are cheaper to employ.
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05 May 2010
£18k compensation - denial of basic hospital treatment left patient with serious pressure sores
A patient at Amersham Hospital was left with serious pressure sores after a routine hip operation. The 46 year old developed pressure sores to both of his hips after the surgery in May 2007.
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04 May 2010
Significant cerebral palsy compensation payout for girl born at Watford General Hospital
A five year old girl left severely disabled because of alleged failings at birth has received a seven figure payout in damages. She requires round-the-clock care after oxygen starvation in the womb left her with cerebral palsy.
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30 April 2010
Judgment secured against Leeds General Infirmary following traumatic birth injury
In April 2010 specialist cerebral palsy solicitor Adrian Desmond from Reading based law firm Boyes Turner secured Judgment against Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for damages to be assessed in favour of a 5-year old child who suffered suffered a left-sided hemiplegia at his birth in 2004.
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29 April 2010
Cerebral palsy teenager disabled at birth is awarded £6.5 million in compensation
A young girl, now aged 15 was starved of oxygen during her birth resulting in severe cerebral palsy. She is unable to talk or walk without help and requires round-the-clock care. She sustained her injuries at Bridgend's Princess of Wales Hospital.
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29 April 2010
Maternal mortality: how many women die in childbirth in your country?
Just as many women die in pregnancy and childbirth in the UK as they were 20 years ago, leaving Britain trailing behind countries like Albania, Poland and Slovakia as well as the wealthier nations of Europe.
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29 April 2010
Failure to adequately assess overdose patient
The mother of an 18 year old boy who died as a result of inadequate assessment by hospital staff following his overdose has been awarded over £100k in compensation for her own suffering and on behalf of her son's estate.
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29 April 2010
Will the planned A&E closures lead to more mistakes?
Doctors working in accident and emergency say plans to downgrade some services are based on flawed evidence.
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29 April 2010
Compensation agreement for sofa burn victims
Over 1000 victims of the toxic sofa litigation are to have their claims settled following an agreement by lawyers acting for customers and insurers for Argos, Homebase, Walmsley Furnishings, Land of Leather and some smaller companies following admissions of liability for the injuries.
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28 April 2010
Sweet factory fined £300k for tragic employee machine death
The UK's largest confectionery firm has been fined a total of £300k after an employee was crushed to death in one of its sweet-making machines.
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28 April 2010
Factory boss fined for safety breaches after worker falls through roof
A director of a manufacturing company has been fined for health and safety breaches after an employee fell through a roof at a site in Cradley Heath.
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28 April 2010
Engineering services firm is fined after worker fell from a height causing serious back injuries
A South Yorkshire engineering service company has been fined £1k after a worker crushed his vertebra and fractured two bones in his back when he fell almost four metres.
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28 April 2010
Sole trader fined £15k - employee broke his leg after 3 metre fall from roof
A sole trader who erects farms buildings has been fined £15k after his employee broke his leg when he fell three metres from the roof of an Aberdeenshire farm building.
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28 April 2010
Cerebral Palsy Claim - disabled girl's £7m compensation payout from NHS
A disabled girl who was starved of oxygen at birth has been awarded up to £7 million in compensation from the NHS.
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27 April 2010
High court orders compensation for hundreds of customers injured after buying ‘toxic sofas’
The High Court has ruled that hundreds of customers who were injured and burned by "toxic sofas" manufactured in China are to share a payout totalling up to £20m. Argos, Land of Leather and Walmsleys have admitted liability.
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27 April 2010
Compensation Pay-outs for victims of Toxic Sofa Syndrome
Argos and other retailers are paying out compensation of up to €50k to Irish customers who developed burn-like rashes and blisters from a chemical used to protect sofas during shipping and storage.
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27 April 2010
£20m pay-out for 'toxic sofa' chemical burn victims
A number of High Street chains have agreed to pay up to £20m to 2,000 people who received chemical burns from anti-fungal agents in sofas.
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26 April 2010
Baby was still born as a result of hospital negligence - £35k compensation
A couple recently received £35k in compensation after their son was still born due to the negligence of hospital staff.
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22 April 2010
Compensation for woman who sustained burns to her body during hysterectomy surgery
A woman received £12k in compensation for a diathermy burn she sustained on her thigh during an operation.
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19 April 2010
Failure to diagnose apendicitis - £35k compensation
A 27 year old man received £35k in compensation after a hospital failed to diagnose that he was suffering from appendicitis. As a result, his appendix ruptured and he experienced unnecessary pain and suffering along with a prolonged recovery period.
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16 April 2010
£2.4 million compensation - delay in diagnosis and treatment of meningitis left boy with cerebral palsy
A nine-year-old boy has been awarded £2.4 million plus annual payments of £130k until the age of 19 and £200k thereafter for the rest of his life, after an NHS trust admitted liability for causing his cerebral palsy after failing to diagnose and treat his meningitis.
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12 April 2010
Compensation for couple who's baby was stillborn due to medical negligence
A couple received £33k in compensation after their baby was stillborn as a result of inadequate fetal monitoring by negligent medical staff.
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08 April 2010
Accident at work - man's arm crushed by metal machinery
A worker at a Shropshire factory had to be airlifted to hospital after his arm became trapped between a lifting device and a roll of metal.
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01 April 2010
Top hospitals 'censured in tough new inspection regime' - NHS trusts now need licences to keep working in the health service
A dozen NHS trusts in England have been told to improve or face tough sanctions. All 378 trusts need a licence from the Care Quality Commission to work in the NHS under a new regime from 1 April.
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01 April 2010
NHS blunders covered up?
Hospitals are covering up fatal blunders by doctors and issuing misleading information about accidents to patients’ families, The Sunday Times reported this week.
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01 April 2010
Failure to diagnose lung cancer for two years – six figure sum awarded to widower
In a clear case of medical negligence, a man whose wife died from lung cancer has been awarded a six-figure sum by the NHS trust which failed to spot the disease.
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01 April 2010
Health Board apologises to family of Erbs Palsy boy – six figure compensation payment expected
The parents of a Pembrokeshire boy, left with severe physical birth injuries as a result of errors made by health care professionals, have received a formal apology from Hywel Dda Health Board after a five-year battle for answers.
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31 March 2010
£3.45m compensation for woman left brain damaged by hospital
A woman who was left brain damaged while undergoing treatment for gallstones has been awarded £3.45m in compensation.
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31 March 2010
£500k compensation for 23 year old woman left infertile after two smear tests fail to spot cancer
A woman has received over £500k in compensation from the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust after she was left infertile after delayed diagnosis of cervial cancer.
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29 March 2010
Accident at work - painter left brain damaged after head injury caused by fall at work
The directors of a decorating firm were prosecuted after an accident at work left a worker brain damaged.
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29 March 2010
Head Injury Accident at Work - apprentice joiner injured in fall
Scotia Homes Ltd was fined after a 17-year-old apprentice joiner fell from the first floor of a house sustaining head injury.
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26 March 2010
NHS safety alerts jump by a quarter in six months
Latest figures show the number of reported safety alerts involving NHS patients has risen sharply, with nearly 500,000 incidents in six months with 473,162 incidents were reported between April and September last year, compared with 379,345 in the same period in 2008.
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25 March 2010
Inaccurate X-rays lead to misdiagnosis and medical negligence claims
Recent research undertaken by US doctors found that standard x-rays fail to spot up to nearly a third of fractures of the hip and pelvis leading to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment and subsequent medical negligence claims.
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25 March 2010
High death rates at 25 NHS trusts a result of medical negligence?
Professor Jarman believes the self-assessment system for NHS trusts is flawed and that twenty-five of them should be investigated over higher than normal death rates after 4,600 more patients died at those trusts in 2007-08 than would be expected.
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25 March 2010
Medical Negligence: NHS target for A&E treatment 'risks patient safety'
Doctors say a key NHS target - to treat people visiting accident and emergency units within four hours - is compromising care and patient safety.
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24 March 2010
A licence for NHS Trusts to practice? A new system for monitoring standards announced
From 1 April, 381 NHS trusts in England will have to be registered with the Care Quality Comission by law to provide care. To be registered, trusts must show they meet new essential standards of quality and safety, which the regulator will constantly monitor.
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24 March 2010
Inadequate maternity services for obese women
A recent independant survey carried out by the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries showed that UK maternity units are short of basic equipment like extra-wide operating tables and beds. It also showed that obese pregnant women are not getting the right advice and assessments.
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24 March 2010
One in five child deaths due to potentially preventable infections
The Health Protection Agency has found that as many as 1 in 5 deaths in children in England and Wales is due to potentially preventable infections, with half of the 1,300 infection-related deaths occurring in children with other health problems including prematurity, cerebral palsy and cancer.
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23 March 2010
Parents bring medical negligence claim against two hospitals for psychological injuries incurred following death of their four day old baby
A couple were awarded £44k in compensation after their four day old baby died following a series of negligent errors and misjudgements of medical staff at two separate hospitals.
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15 March 2010
Adrian Desmond secures Judgment against hospital in dystonic cerebral palsy case
Specialist cerebral palsy lawyer Adrian Desmond acted for a boy whose dystonic cerebral palsy was caused by negligence of the doctors and midwives before his delivery.
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11 March 2010
Government consultation announced on dangerous dogs law
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, has announced that there will be a consultation on whether current law on dangerous dogs properly protects the public and encourages responsible dog ownership.
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10 March 2010
Patients' medical records go on NHS database without consent
The aim of the new NHS database is to hold the private records of more than 50 million patients, but concerns have been raised about the security of the private information held on the system and how it will be protected from hackers.
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05 March 2010
John Radcliffe Hospital child heart operation deaths linked to same surgeon
BBC News has reported that four children who died during heart surgery at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital were all operated on by the same surgeon.
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03 March 2010
Hospital negligence and delay in diagnosis leads to removal of a kidney
A 41-year-old woman received £125k in compensation after significant delays to her referral and treatment. As a result her right kidney had to be removed and she subsequently suffered lyphodema and debilitating pain.
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02 March 2010
FOCIS response to CJC 'Cost of care consultation'
Response from the Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors to the Civil Justice Council's 'Cost of care in Personal Injury Claims' Consultation.
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02 March 2010
FOCIS response to CDF provisional final draft amended clinical negligence protocol
Response from the Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors to the CDF Provisional Final Draft Amended Clinical Negligence Protocol.
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25 February 2010
Hospital left patients 'sobbing and humiliated'
Following an investigation into one of the worst NHS scandals in history, BBC News recently reported how hospital patients were left "sobbing and humiliated" by uncaring staff.
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24 February 2010
Paraplegia caused by inadequate monitoring equipment and surgeon's failure to use imaging during operation
NHS Trust and surgeon found negligent after a patient was left paraplegic following negligent spinal surgery.
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17 February 2010
8 month delay in diagnosis of breast cancer - negligent GP failed to refer patient to specialist breast clinic for diagnosis
A 48-year-old woman recently received £5,460 after she suffered a delay of 8 months in being referred to a breast clinic and having her breast cancer diagnosed.
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15 February 2010
Cerebral Palsy caused by negligent midwifery staff - significant compensation for 6 year old boy
In a recent case a 6 year old boy wasd awarded significant compensation for his cerebral palsy caused by negligent midwifery staff.
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10 February 2010
Gross negligence and manslaughter - negligent German locum GP caused death of 70 year old man
On the 4 February 2010 a coroner ruled that the death of a 70-year-old patient who was administered a tenfold overdose by an "incompetent" German GP was unlawful killing.
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10 February 2010
£4.5 million in compensation for paralysed TV Reporter abandoned by neurosurgeon just hours after surgery
Andrew Brown, a former CNN report, has settled his claim against consultant neurosurgeon David Sandeman in the sum of ₤4.5 million plus Brown’s legal costs.
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08 February 2010
£2 million awarded to 14 year old for medical negligence before and during her birth
In October 2009 a 14-year-old girl received £2 million in compensation for alleged negligence by medical staff prior to and during her birth in July 1995.
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08 February 2010
‘Unacceptable’ major trauma care in England
There is unacceptable variation in major trauma care in England depending upon where and when people are treated, according to a National Audit Office report.
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08 February 2010
Parliament moves towards compensation for asbestos pleural plaques victims
The Damages (Asbestos-Related Conditions) Bills were debated in both Houses of Parliament at the same time on Friday 5 February 2010. If passed, the Bills will allow pleural plaques sufferers to claim compensation for their asbestos exposure.
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03 February 2010
Cerebral Palsy Claim - £5.6m compensation payout for girl who was brain damaged at birth
A girl who was starved of oxygen at birth and suffered severe brain damage, has been awarded £5.6m compensation.
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03 February 2010
The cost of failure - £12.7bn NHS National Programme for IT
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02 February 2010
£30k in compensation for neurological and functional losses suffered following delays and alleged negligent failings by an NHS Trust
A 42 year old man received £30k in compensation for neurological and functional losses suffered following delays and alleged negligent failings by an NHS Trust in providing treatment between October 2004 and February 2005.
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02 February 2010
Claim against GP for failure to diagnose a man's Cauda Equina Syndrome
Medical negligence lawyer Adrian Desmond secured a High Court judgement for a 40 year old man after GP failed to diagnose cauda equina syndrome.
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02 February 2010
GP Medical Negligence High Court judgement - GP failure to diagnose cauda equina syndrome
Medical negligence lawyer Adrian Desmond secures High Court judgement for a man who's GP failed to diagnose his cauda equina syndrome.
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29 January 2010
Judgment secured against Northwick Park Hospital for profoundly and permanently injured child
On 13 January 2010, specialist cerebral palsy lawyer Adrian Desmond from Boyes Turner secured judgment against Northwick Park Hospital in North West London for damages to be assessed in favour of a 5 year old girl who was delivered at the hospital in 2004.
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29 January 2010
Judgment secured against Frimley Park Hospital - failure to diagnose child's meningitis
Medical negligence lawyer Adrian Desmond from Boyes Turner secured judgment against Frimley Park Hospital in Hampshire following the failure by that hospital to treat meningitis in a boy now aged 12.
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29 January 2010
Pleural Plaques Sufferers - a ray of light?
There have been recent reports in various newspapers that the Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw, is to announce a new package for asbestos sufferers, including a potential one-off payment for people suffering from pleural plaques.
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29 January 2010
More than just a bad hair day...
The BBC “One Show” television programme on 27 January 2010 highlighted the problems which can arise on a visit to the hairdresser.
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27 January 2010
Child drug errors 'too frequent'
A snap-shot study by the University of London of five hospitals in the city found 13% of the 3,000 prescriptions they examined had an error and a fifth of drugs given to children in these hospitals during 2004 and 2005 were administered incorrectly.
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19 January 2010
Success for pleural plaques sufferers as insurers fail to overturn Scottish Compensation Act
Pleural plaques sufferers in Scotland received good news at the start of the year when a number of leading insurance firms failed to overturn the Scottish asbestos compensation Act. The Act was put in place to overrule the 2007 House of Lords decision which prevented pleural plaques sufferers from recovering compensation.
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18 January 2010
Lord Justice Jackson’s Review of Civil Litigation Costs
Lord Justice Jackson's recommendations about legal costs in his report published last week attack, as predicted, the soft target of personal injury claimants.
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15 January 2010
Lord Justice Jackson’s Review of Civil Litigation Costs
Lord Justice Jackson's recommendations about legal costs in his report published yesterday attack, as predicted, the soft target of personal injury claimants.
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15 January 2010
Damaging Review of Civil Litigation Costs
Lord Justice Jackson's recommendations about legal costs in his report published yesterday attack, as predicted, the soft target of personal injury claimants.
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08 January 2010
Stafford hospital branded Britain’s worst NHS Trust
Two years ago an unpublished report by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) identified problems at Stafford hospital. The report concluded that the hospital’s surgical team was “dysfunctional” and recommended that surgeons take “psychological assessments” to improve working relationships.
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08 January 2010
Snow & ice
Bad weather conditions across the UK have caused widespread disruption.
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29 December 2009
Newborn death - NHS maternity unit was ‘short of midwives’
"Scandalous" maternity services at Milton Keynes general hospital where newborn baby Ebony McCall died.
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23 December 2009
Pleural plaques announcement still a no-show
A written answer has been published in response to Chloe Smith MP’s question which asks when the Ministry of Justice will provide its response to the consultation on providing compensation to people with pleural plaques.
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23 December 2009
Compensation for family of man who died from mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure at the Fawley refinery in 1960's
Our industrial disease lawyers secured £316k for the wife and son of a man who died 4 months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. He had been exposed to asbestos whilst working at Esso's Fawley refinery in the 1960's.
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23 December 2009
NHS maternity unit where baby died was ‘short of midwives’ despite warnings from health watchdog only last year
Maternity services at Milton Keynes general hospital where newborn baby Ebony McCall died and mothers in labour were left unattended due to a shortage of midwives were "nothing short of scandalous".
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15 December 2009
National crackdown as NHS forced to log all errors
Hospitals, GPs' surgeries and all other healthcare providers will in future have to log every time a patient is harmed or dies while receiving treatment.
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15 December 2009
Care Quality Commission loses Chairman over patient safety debate
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01 December 2009
NHS 'must get better at early cancer diagnosis'
The second annual report following the Cancer Reform Strategy in 2007 has found that there is a considerable regional variation in cancer outcomes and services across the UK and looks particularly at the one year survival rates as an indicator for the early diagnosis of cancers, which in turn leads to improved outcomes.
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26 November 2009
Ordeal of mums left alone in labour 'due to a midwives shortage'
Mothers have attacked NHS maternity care with more than one in three saying they were left alone and distressed during labour.
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24 November 2009
Boyes Turner continues to represent sofa burn victims
Boyes Turner solicitors in Reading continues to deal with hundreds of cases on behalf of injured sofa burn victims.
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23 November 2009
NHS suspends private care after two negligent deaths
A new government scheme providing "private care on the NHS'' for 50,000 people has been suspended after two patients died.
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20 November 2009
Doctors told to say sorry to patients more often in a bid to reduce litigation costs
The NHS is asking doctors and nurses to be more honest and open when things go wrong and offer an apology to the patient or their family.
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18 November 2009
NHS Trust prosecuted over death of woman after epidural drug was injected into her arm in error
The Health and Safety Executive is prosecuting the Great Western Hospital NHS Trust over alleged "safety breaches" following the death of a 30 year old mother hours after the birth of her son in 2004.
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11 November 2009
NHS must do more to prevent harm to patients from prescribed medicines after leaving hospital
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has raised concerns about the risk of harm to patients caused as a result of failures to monitor and review prescribed medications on discharge from Hospital to the community.
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06 November 2009
NHS Healtcare rated as equal to the best in the world
Britain's family doctors, not particularly renowned for their optimism about the NHS, have rated the health care delivered in the UK as equal to the best in the world.
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06 November 2009
Ministers reject call to invest £89m a year in NHS neonatal units
Ministers have pulled the plug on funding to bring the care of the sickest babies up to the standard for adults, in a sign of the impact of the credit crunch on the NHS.
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03 November 2009
Battle on NHS gagging orders
A woman has defied a gagging order to speak out publicly about her victory over the NHS in a funding wrangle.
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02 November 2009
Common misspellings of 'cerebral palsy'
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28 October 2009
Gagging clauses stop truth coming out about NHS patient safety
The British Medical Journal has accused an NHS trust of trying to impose a gagging clause on a consultant as part of a deal to terminate his employment. It is alleged that the deal is intended to prevent him speaking out about issues of patient safety.
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27 October 2009
SCOPE is successful in fight to save disability living allowance
UK Disability charity SCOPE have been victorious in their campaign to save Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.
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20 October 2009
Pleural plaques victims are one step nearer to justice
On Friday 14 October 2009 The Damages (Asbestos Related Conditions) Bill passed through the House of Commons. If it becomes law it will overturn the 2007 Law Lords Ruling denying compensation payments to sufferers of pleural plaques.
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20 October 2009
Asbestos cancer victim’s widow awarded £300k payout - Fawley Refinery worker
Boyes Turner's specialist industrial disease lawyers helped a widow who lost her husband to asbestos-related cancer more than 40 years after he started work at Fawley Refinery win over £300k in damages.
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13 October 2009
U-TURN: NHS turns to no win, no fee legal representation
The NHS is turning to no win, no fee legal representation – despite being a persistent critic of the practice according to an original article published by the BBC. Boyes Turner's Adrian Desmond comments.
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13 October 2009
NHS wastes £500M a year on unused drugs
It has been revealed that the NHS loses up to £500million a year on drugs unused by patients.
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13 October 2009
48-Hour weeks for hospital staff are 'killing' NHS patients
Senior doctors say NHS patients are dying as a result of new European Union rules that impose a 48-hour week on hospital staff.
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13 October 2009
NHS mistakes 'harming thousands'
It has been reported that in a six month period over 5700 patients in England died or suffered serious harm due to NHS medical errors.
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13 October 2009
Rate of medication errors in nursing homes is 'unacceptable'
Research published this month shows an alarming rate of medication errors in nursing homes with 7 out of 10 nursing home residents being exposed to medication errors.
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09 October 2009
Farmer trampled by cows
Farmer injured after he was trampled by cattle.
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02 October 2009
NHS fails to make top 10 health systems in Europe
According to analysts Britain’s health care system is just ahead of Slovenia and the Czech Republic among European nations.
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02 October 2009
Boyes Turner launches Berkshire Asbestos Support Group (BASG)
Reading law firm Boyes Turner has set up a support group for sufferers of asbestos disease and their families.
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29 September 2009
Compensation payout for mother’s death after caesarean section
The family of a woman who died during a caesarean section at a Buckinghamshire hospital has been awarded £410k in compensation by the High Court.
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29 September 2009
Research links 'death rates rise' with arrival of junior doctors
Researchers say they have found a small but statistically significant increase in the number of patients who die each year when junior doctors start work.
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29 September 2009
Stafford inquiry 'adds insult to injury'
Patient safety charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is disappointed and frustrated by the limited terms of reference imposed on the independent inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
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29 September 2009
E-coli outbreak at Godstone Farm
The number of cases arising from the E-coli outbreak at Godstone Farm in Surrey has risen to 64. Those infected may have a claim for compensation against the owners of the farm.
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29 September 2009
Proposals to impose a legally binding "duty of candour" on healthcare providers
The Department of Health considers imposing a legally binding "duty of candour" on hospitals, surgeries and other healthcare providers ensuring NHS managers and staff admit to patients when an error has led to harm, explain what went wrong and apologise.
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22 September 2009
Accidents on holiday - compensation claims
Whilst thousands of holidaymakers enjoyed a relaxing break abroad this summer, there were also a number of tragedies following accidents abroad - many involving children or young adults.
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22 September 2009
Fatal Cattle and Animal Attacks
This article comes in the wake of a fourth fatal trampling incident involving charging cows this year and a widely reported injury to former Home Secretary David Blunkett, when he broke his rib after a trampling incident when walking his dog in June.
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11 September 2009
Medical negligence and spinal surgery - £1.6 million awarded to man who was left wheelchair bound and incontinent
A man was awarded £1.6 million after negligent surgery to remove a bulging lumbar disc in his back left him with permanent damage to his bladder, bowel and sexual function and suffering constant and untreataeble neuropathic pain in both feet and legs.
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11 September 2009
Surgical negligence - inadequate anaesthesia administered prior to surgical removal of retained placenta
A 34-year-old woman received £12k in compensation after she was inadequately anaethesised and therefore suffered pain during the surgical removal of a retained placenta and subsequently experienced post traumatic stress disorder.
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11 September 2009
Medical negligence and birth injuries - brachial plexus injury caused at birth led to curvature of the spine
A 14-year-old girl received provisional damages of £320k after suffering shoulder dystocia during her birth in November 1994. She sustained a right-sided brachical plexus injury and developed curvature of the spine.
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11 September 2009
How do couples support each other during and after a traumatic birth?
A research project at University College London is looking at how couples try to help each other through a traumatic birth and the post-traumatic difficulties that can develop afterwards.
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11 September 2009
NHS blunders double in 3 years
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of medical mistakes involving NHS patients, with more than twice as many incidents reported to the official watchdog over a three-year period.
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10 September 2009
Negligent spinal surgery - man left wheelchair bound and incontinent
Man awarded £1.6 million after hospital failed to remove a bulging lumbar disc and instead caused a dural tear.
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27 August 2009
Patient Association publishes report on 'cruel and neglectful' standards of care within the NHS
A report published by the Patients Association (PA) today identifies a consistent pattern of 'cruel and neglectful' standards of care within the NHS.
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26 August 2009
Boyes Turner launches seven major birth injury cerebral palsy claims this summer
Specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury lawyers at Boyes Turner launch seven claims this summer.
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26 August 2009
Pensioner "not ill enough to qualify for funding" according to NHS Trust refunded care home fees
A pensioner suffering from Alzheimer's disease has been refunded £110,000 in care home fees after Dorset NHS Trust wrongly claimed she was not ill enough to qualify for funding.
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26 August 2009
All hospitals with an A & E department should provide acute oncology services
The National Chemotherapy Advisory Group (NCAG) have recommended that all hospitals with an emergency department should provide acute oncology services to ensure the correct treatment of emergency cancer patients.
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26 August 2009
10% of hospital admissions suffered some form of harm according to Department of Health report on patient safety
A report on patient safety over the summer found that as many as 10% of hospital admissions suffered some form of harm. It recommended that all hospitals conduct regular sample case note reviews to provide a clear indicator of local performance in making services safer.
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19 August 2009
Delay in diagnosis and negligently administering chemotherapy - £250,000 compensation claim
A 55 year old man received £250,000 when his wife died of neutropenic sepsis after receiving chemotherapy treatment.
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10 August 2009
Surgery negligence claim - woman suffered left-sided facial paralysis following operation
A 51 year old woman received £50,000 after she suffered left-sided facial paralysis following an operation.
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07 August 2009
Pressure sore compensation claim - paraplegic receives £32,500 in compensation
A 64 year old man received £32,500 after he sustained pressure sores to his buttocks whilst staying at the defendant hospital. A black pressure sore on his left buttock took approximately five months to heal but left an obvious scar and the area would be prone to developing pressure sores in the future.
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30 July 2009
Hospital Negligence - failure to act on pregnant woman's blood test results
A 29-year-old woman received £50k after she suffered a post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) and subsequently underwent a hysterectomy as a result of hospital negligence.
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28 July 2009
Hospital fails to diagnose torn achilles tendon - £8k compensation
A 46-year-old man received £8,000 after a hospital failed to diagnose a tear of his achilles tendon in August 2005. He required surgery and was unable to return to carry out all his duties at work for approximately eight months.
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23 July 2009
Further Delay for Pleural Plaque Victims
The Government was due to make an announcement on whether pleural plaques sufferers can receive any compensation on 21st July, but yet again the decision was delayed and no announcement will now be made until October.
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21 July 2009
GP Surgery Negligence - nurses left gauze in woman's surgical wound for 6 weeks
A 40-year-old woman received £13.5k in medical negligence compensation after a gauze pack was left inside her surgical wound in July 2005.
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21 July 2009
Hospital negligence caused delay in diagnosis of breast cancer
In a shocking case, a 50-year-old woman received £10k in medical negligence compensation for a hospital's failure to carry out a mammogram in December 2005, leading to a delay in diagnosing breast cancer.
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17 July 2009
Health Committee slams NHS in patient safety report
A Health Committee report has slammed the NHS for failing to collect evidence about whether patients are any safer after a decade of initiatives to stop harm.
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06 July 2009
NHS is not learning from its mistakes - patient safety still under threat
The House of Commons Health Committee has revealed in a 100 page report on NHS medical negligence that the basic changes recommended after a cancer drug error killed a teenage boy have still not been implemented - eight years after he died.
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18 June 2009
8 injured as Council van hits bus queue
Serious road traffic accident in Reading, Berkshire. Specialist personal injury lawyer Kim Smerdon comments.
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18 June 2009
Medical negligence and children - report finds 70 children died and 20,000 suffered injury due to medical negligence
A report on the safety of NHS care for children found that during 2007/8 more than 70 children died and 20,000 suffered injury or harm following mistakes in medical care.
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17 June 2009
Spinal injuries sustained after Council van hits bus queue
Pedestrians injured in serious road traffic accident.
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16 June 2009
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) patients 'failed' by Doctors
BBC News has reported on a national inquiry which found that Doctors have been failing patients who develop emergency kidney problems in hospital.
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15 June 2009
Lord Justice Jackson's Review of the Costs of Clinical Negligence Litigation
Adrian Desmond, Chariman of the Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors (FOCIS) met with Lord Justice Jackson this month to discuss his review of the costs of clinical negligence litigation. The review is currently in its second consultative phase which ends on July 31.
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15 June 2009
Costs of Clinical Negligence litigation under Review
Adrian Desmond, Boyes Turner's medical negligence expert and Chairman of the Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors (FOCIS) discusses the review of of the costs of clinical negligence litigation with Lord Justice Jackson.
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08 June 2009
NHS trust ordered to apologise to relatives after man bled to death from negligent surgery
A public services ombudsman report has criticised the former North Glamorgan Trust saying delaued diagnosis and negligent hospital staff caused the death of Myron Hall, 47.
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14 May 2009
Cerebral Palsy sufferer allowed to proceed with medical negligence claim after statutory limitation period
A case has recently been reported about a man who was entitled to proceed with his claim for damages against a health authority some time after the statutory limitation period
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14 May 2009
Shortage of consultants puts babies’ lives at risk
The spotlight has recently been turned on the country’s NHS maternity units – many of which do not have enough consultants to deliver babies safely round the clock and look after women during childbirth.
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11 May 2009
£23k compensation for parents whose baby was stillborn due to negligent management of mother's labour
A 34-year-old couple together received £23k in compensation after their baby was stillborn due to the negligent management of the mother's labour by hospital staff. They both suffered psychiatric injuries and subsequently attended counselling.
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08 May 2009
£1.9 million in compensation - woman's bladder damaged after childbirth caused by negligent hospital care
In the case of Warrilow v Norfolk & Norwich NHS Trust (2006) a 39-year-old woman received £1.9 million in compensation following damage to her bladder after she gave birth as a result of negligent hospital care.
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30 April 2009
£20k compensation for mother whose 1 year old child died from receiving negligent medical treatment
A woman received £20k in compensation after her one year old daughter died from receiving negligent medical treatment from a hospital. As a result she suffered from psychiatric problems which were expected to last for approximately four years subject to her undergoing therapy.
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24 April 2009
AvMA calls for Government to make new law requiring that patients or their next of kin are told about incidents of medical negligence
Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA - the charity for patient safety & justice) has launched a campaign for the introduction of a legal duty of candour in healthcare in the UK.
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17 April 2009
22 year old wins £30k compensation for negligent surgery undertaken when she was 4
A 22-year-old woman received £30k in medical negligence compensation for the 17cm keloid scar and a distorted navel that she was left with following negligent surgery at the age of 4.
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14 April 2009
Celebrity footballer helps raise awareness of cerebral palsy
BBC News has reported on the benefits of high profile celebrity footballer Phil Neville in helping to raise awareness of cerebral palsy and bring it under the public spotlight.
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03 April 2009
Breakthrough - NHS complaints and litigation
The Department of Health has confirmed that the current bar on people having an NHS complaint investigated if they have started or intend to start litigation to recover compensation is to be lifted.
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03 April 2009
Seventeen stillbirths a day in the UK
SANDS - the stillbirth and neonatal death charity - has reported that 17 babies a day are stillborn or die shortly after birth in the UK.
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03 April 2009
New independent regulator for the NHS
From 1 April 2009 the Care Quality Commission takes over responsibility for independent regulation of the NHS from the Healthcare Commission.
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03 April 2009
Concern over inappropriate diagnosis and treatment of thyroid problems
It has been reported that the number of people being inappropriately misdiagnosed and treated for underactivity of the thyroid gland is rising.
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01 April 2009
Compensation awarded to man for medical negligence of prison medical staff
In a recent case, a 58-year-old man made a medical negligence compensation claim and received £12.5k in damages for the perforated gastric ulcer that developed as a result of negligent prison medical staff.
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18 March 2009
Failing hospital 'caused deaths'
According to the NHS Watchdog, Stafford Hospital's "appalling" emergency care resulted in hundreds of patients dying needlessly. Boyes Turner's medical negligence compensation lawyer, Stephen Underwood, comments.
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06 March 2009
£22k compensation for suffering caused by delayed diagnosis of ruptured achilles tendon
Here we look at a case where a 51-year-old man received £22k in compensation for the suffering he experienced following delay in hospital staff providing a correct diagnosis of a ruptured Achilles tendon in June 2005. He was unable to resume full work duties for approximately one year after the accident.
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06 March 2009
NHS Trust liable for cerebral palsy caused by obstetrician's failure to act
An NHS trust was liable for cerebral palsy suffered by a baby as a result of an obstetrician's failure to intervene timeously in its delivery.
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06 March 2009
Watchdog calls for the NHS to get responses to complaints 'right first time' and learn lessons from them
Some NHS trusts are still not responding to complaints effectively or learning lessons from them, this is the finding of a recent report on complaints in the NHS.
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04 March 2009
Stillbirth rate 'still too high'
According to a recent UK report the number of stillbirths and deaths shortly after birth remains high, claiming 17 babies every day on average in the UK and nearly 6,500 babies a year. The stillbirth rate has not changed for a decade despite a relative increase in midwives and consultant obstetricians, and increased investment in the field. Leading medical negligence lawyer Susan Brown comments.
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26 February 2009
Adrian Desmond of Boyes Turner elected Chairman of FOCIS
Boyes Turner's medical negligence expert, Adrian Desmond, has been elected as the new Chairman of FOCIS (Forum of Complex Injury Solicitors).
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24 February 2009
Boyes Turner hosts fundraising quiz to raise awareness of Mesothelioma Day
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18 February 2009
NHS Complaints handling is not satisfactory
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18 February 2009
£117.5k in compensation for family of a woman who died following delayed diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma
In a recent medical negligence case, 2 claimants together received £117.5k following the death of a woman (X)who died at the age of 40 following delayed diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma of her breast.
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11 February 2009
Medical blunders will cost NHS £700 million next year
Health bosses say that NHS payouts for serious medical errors are set to soar next year to more than £700million. Boyes Turner's medical negligence expert Adrian Desmond comments.
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11 February 2009
CASE REPORT: Doctor's breach of duty of care - Meningitis
A doctor breached her duty of care by failing to investigate the history of a child's illness which included constant headaches. Had that history been investigated, and in the absence of any viral symptoms, it would have led to the child being admitted to hospital and being diagnosed and treated for tuberculosis meningitis.
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09 February 2009
High Court approves £1.5 million compensation settlement for 24 year old whose cerebral palsy was caused by hospital negligence
24 year old Sarah Hamblin's cerebral palsy was caused by hospital negligence at the time of her birth at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. Today the High Court approved a compensation settlement of £1.5 million.
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29 January 2009
Have you been affected by NHS age discrimination?
The Mirror’s ‘Dear Miriam’ this week revealed that half the doctors specialising in care for older people believe the NHS is "institutionally ageist". Age discrimination legislation will be broadened in the forthcoming Equality Bill but it may take more than a year before it's approved. In the meantime, here's how to make your doctor listen.
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22 January 2009
Compensation for Skiing Accidents
Have you been involved in a skiing accident?
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15 January 2009
A simple surgical checklist that saves lives
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has ordered all hospitals in England and Wales to use a new surgical checklist across the board by February 2010. The checklist was tested in eight cities around the globe and results show that using it during major operations can cut deaths by more than 40% and complications by more than a third.
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14 January 2009
Victory for Dockworkers
In a landmark Judgment on 18th December 2008 The High Court ordered that the Government could be sued by Dockers who had contracted asbestos related diseases due to the negligence of the National Labour Dock Board.
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13 January 2009
THE IRISHMEN WHO BUILT BIRMINGHAM – APPEAL FOR WITNESSES
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10 December 2008
House of Commons Debate on Pleural Plaques
On Wednesday 26 November 2008, the House of Commons held a debate on the issue of compensation for sufferers with pleural plaques.
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10 December 2008
Victory for Mesothelioma Victims at High Court
On 21 November 2008, Mr Justice Burton handed down a positive Judgment for mesothelioma victims in the “Employers’ Liability Insurance Policy Trigger Litigation” enabling thousands of mesothelioma patients and their families to continue receiving compensation from insurers.
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05 December 2008
£4.89 million in compensation for family of child whose cerebral palsy was caused by negligence of hospital staff
Boyes Turner medical negligence lawyer Adrian Desmond recovered £4.89 million in compensation for a baby and his family after hospital staff negligence caused the baby severe cerebral palsy.
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18 November 2008
NHS to face string of compensation claims after u-turn on "top up" drug payment rules
This week’s announcement that the rules allowing patients to "top up" their NHS care with private treatments are to be relaxed means patients who buy their own life extending medication will no longer lose their right to free NHS care.
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30 October 2008
Cerebral Palsy compensation claim against NHS trust negligent system failure
In the recent and successful cerebral palsy compensation claim case of Stephen Lorraine v Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it was found that a negligent system failure on the part of the NHS trust caused claimant's cerebral palsy.
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21 October 2008
Compensation for victims of motorway coach crashes
Our personal injury lawyers have advised on many high profile coach accidents. Speak to our accident lawyers and they may be able to help you make a claim.
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21 October 2008
Motorway coach crashes - spinal injury compensation claims
Victims claim compensation for motorway coach crashes. Speak to Boyes Turner's specialist spinal injury lawyers to make a claim.
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08 October 2008
Dead Labour MP sues Government over asbestos
An MP whose death has led to a by-election was in the process of suing the Government for refusing to pay compensation for the illness that killed him.
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02 October 2008
Mesothelioma Victims receive lump sum compensation from Government
From 1 Ocotber 2008, mesothelioma victims will be able to claim a lump sum from the Government, even if they do not know where they were exposed to the asbestos that caused it.
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02 October 2008
MoD admits liability for death of Donnington fire mesothelioma victim
The BBC's Inside Out programme last week revealed evidence that the 1983 Donnington fire which rained asbestos ash over the area could have been prevented. The MoD admits liability for the fire which caused a young mother to develop the asbestos related cancer mesothelioma - from which she died last year.
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25 September 2008
Compensation for people with skin rashes caused by leather furniture
The Daily papers are currently running adverts to alert people about skin rashes caused by leather furniture. Boyes Turner is acting for a significant number of people who have been affected. If you have purchased leather furniture in the last three years and have had any symptoms such as a rash or breathing problems you should contact us immediately on 0800 884 0719.
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03 September 2008
Time bomb - How asbestos in schools could lead to thousands of legal claims
News that a 28 year-old woman has become the youngest person to die of the asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma, has highlighted the risk posed by asbestos in schools.
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31 August 2008
GMC faces judicial review for not investigating negligent death 'cover-up' allegations
Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is applying for a judicial review after the GMC decided not to investigate serious allegations concerning the death of a 10-year old boy.
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28 August 2008
NHS has money in bank while patients remain deprived
The NHS is predicted to have a £1.75 billion surplus in the bank by the end of this financial year. Medical negligence lawyer Adrian Desmond comments.
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26 August 2008
Fears over 'super surgeries'
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26 August 2008
Maximum severity cerebral palsy compensation claim - over-21 age limit ignored
The High Court has used its discretion to allow a man with maximum severity cerebral palsy to sue the hospital he was born at, even though at over 21 years of age he is technically out of time. Medical negligence lawyer Adrian Desmond comments.
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21 August 2008
Medical negligence - ageism rife in the NHS
The Daily Mail this week reported on the impact that age discimination in the NHS is having on the elderly. Leading medical negligence lawyer Susan Brown comments.
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20 August 2008
Challenges remain in improving diabetic care
Diabetes care is improving, but there is still a long way to go before the NHS is providing top quality services. Medical negligence lawyer Rosaline Wong comments.
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18 August 2008
Lawyers don overalls to help local brain injury charity, Headway
A group of lawyers from Boyes Turner in Reading will be rolling up their sleeves and donning overalls to help Headway Thames Valley decorate their new premises.
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17 August 2008
Pathologist's negligence led to woman's death
A High Court Judge recently found that a woman would probably have survived if not for a series of errors by a pathologist at Kings' College Hospital. Lucy Norton comments.
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17 August 2008
The dangers of NICE
"Arrogant, illogical and totally out of touch, NICE must be scrapped ...it's killing too many people." The words of Jonathan Waxman, a professor of oncology at Imperial College London, who last week wrote an article, published by The Daily Mail, exposing the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
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17 August 2008
Court of Protection: visitors at risk
Trevor Lyttleton recently wrote in The Law Society Gazette about how the Court of Protection must address the 'catastrophic impact' of the Mental Capacity Act on visitors. Adrian Desmond comments.
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06 August 2008
Patients falsely cleared of cancer diagnosis
The Guardian recently reported that according to an NHS trust, blunders in a hospital laboratory led to 17 patients being given a false all-clear for caner, delaying the start of life-saving treatment. Medical negligence lawyer, Susan Brown, comments.
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05 August 2008
Doctor's 'DIY' kidney machine can save lives
BBC News has reported that a baby dying from kidney failure was saved when her doctor designed and built her a dialysis machine from scratch in his garage.
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05 August 2008
Statins 'may cut dementia risk'
Scientists have found further evidence that taking commonly used chloesterol-lowering statins may protect against dementia and memory loss.
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04 August 2008
Breast surgeon could be struck off after multiple medical negligence claims
The GMC is to decide if a surgeon will be permanently barred from breast surgery, after being reported to them by lawyers.
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04 August 2008
Millions to be spent on NHS rebrand
It has been reported that £2 million of taxpayers' money will be spent in an NHS re-branding exercise which seeks to give a slick new title to the cumbersome 'Primary Care Trust' label currently used for local healthcare organisations.
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04 August 2008
NHS castigated for fatal neglect of patients with learning disabilities
The Independent's Health Editor, Jeremy Laurance, last week reported on the inquiry into the shocking deaths of six patients with learning difficulties who suffered appalling neglect at the hands of the NHS which concluded that the cases were "not isolated incidents".
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01 August 2008
NHS blunder led to 17 patients getting false all-clear for cancer
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31 July 2008
Draft NHS complaints Constitution published
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30 July 2008
NHS Litigation Authority Chief Executive comments on compensation claims against the NHS
NHS Litigation Authority Chief Executive talks about his observations on litigation against the NHS in the UK.
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30 July 2008
NHS increases chance of death for people with learning disabilities such as cerebral palsy
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28 July 2008
Woman received settlement of £800,000 after being brain damaged by detox diet
Woman suffered epileptic seizure causing brain damage.
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28 July 2008
Statins - risk of dementia halved?
Statins, which are commonly used to reduce the risk of heart disease, may also decrease the chance of developing dementia by up to 50%.
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22 July 2008
Skin cancer sufferers at risk - delays in diagnosis, incomplete removal and scarring by GPs
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21 July 2008
Dorset asbestos deaths set to rise
West Dorset area likely to be particularly affected because of former dockyards at Portland and the link with the Royal Navy.
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21 July 2008
Wiltshire carpenter dies of asbestos related lung cancer
Exposure to asbestos while working in the Ministry of Defence underground base near Corsham in Wiltshire.
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21 July 2008
Asbestos threat in Parliament
Asbestos contaminated shafts in the Palace of Westminster are not properly secured.
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21 July 2008
Relaxation of insurance duties
This will result in increased difficulties for asbestos victims to obtain financial compensation.
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15 July 2008
Actor dies of mesothelioma
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15 July 2008
Asbestos fire, families evacuated
Exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to the development of fatal diseases many years later.
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10 July 2008
Maternity medical negligence - Healthcare watchdog urges NHS to improve maternity services
The Healthcare Commission has urged the NHS to redouble its efforts to improve maternity services by enhancing the quality of clinical care and the experiences of women.
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10 July 2008
A&E medical negligence - brain-damaged boy receives compensation for 30-hour delay
It has been reported that in a case which took nine years to settle, a brain-damaged boy has finally received a substantial settlement for a 30-hour treatment delay.
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10 July 2008
Delay in diagnosis and treatment of cancer - dangers of malignant melanoma
Malignant melanoma affects 9000 Britons per year and claims more than 1800 lives.
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10 July 2008
30 hour treatment delay left young boy with serious brain damage
A young boy was taken to A&E after a convulsion. He was suffering from herpes Simplex Encephalitis. The hospital should have administered an anti-viral treatment immeadiately but there was a 30 hour delay.
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09 July 2008
Pleural plaques consultation paper
The Government have now published a consultation paper to consider reinstating some compensation for people suffering from pleural plaques.
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09 July 2008
The Darzi Review - the Government's latest NHS overhaul
Lord Darzi's plan for the next 10 years of the health service in England emphasises the importance of striving for high quality care from the NHS, rather than setting targets or calling for wholesale reorganisation of the way services are delivered.
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08 July 2008
Greater London Council and Haringey Council worker claims compensation for mesothelioma
Mr C's industrial disease claim was settled a year after his death for £140,000.
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08 July 2008
Coroner confirms asbestos related death of CEGB worker
Mr F worked for the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) at Marchwood Power Station in Southampton in the 1960s and 1970s.
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08 July 2008
Hoddesdon power station carpenter dies of mesothelioma
Mr W was regularly exposed to white and blue asbestos.
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08 July 2008
Alan Johnson's NHS of the Future
The Department of Health reports on the draft Constitution that enshrines the principles and values of the NHS for the future. It was published this week for consultation by the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson.
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01 July 2008
Early diagnosis and treatment for childhood stroke
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30 June 2008
Scottish pleural plaque bill
The Scottish Bill will result in compensation being awarded for the condition of pleural plaques for people who were exposed to asbestos while working in Scotland.
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30 June 2008
Mesothelioma deaths set to rise
Nearly 2000 people die from mesothelioma a year.
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27 June 2008
Hospital medical negligence - will 'Safer Surgery Checklist' reduce surgery death rates?
Every year, an estimated 2000 NHS Patients die as a result of errors in treatment. Medical negligence lawyer Rosaline Wong comments on the new 'Safer Surgery Checklist' being piloted in London this week.
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27 June 2008
Delay in diagnosis - reduced due to new cervical cancer vaccine
BBC News has reported on a row over a new vaccination programme to protect schoolgirls from cervical cancer later in life, which campaigners say will be using the wrong vaccine.
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27 June 2008
Cost cutting - medical negligence - delay in diabetes diagnosis
Figures show that the number of children in England needing emergency hospital care for complications of diabetes has risen. Medical negligence lawyer Nina Ali comments.
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27 June 2008
Treatment top-ups turnaround?
Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced that the Department of Health is reviewing top ups of NHS treatment with privately-funded drugs after 20 years of disallowal.
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23 June 2008
Mesothelioma patient beats the odds
Jon Matthews who has mesothelioma bet he would beat the doctors estimate of his life expectancy.
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23 June 2008
Scotland moves to reinstate justice for pleural plaques
The bill will entitle anyone in Scotland to bring a claim on the basis that their lungs have been damaged by asbestos leading to the development of pleural plaques.
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20 June 2008
APIL warns of laser treatment cowboys
APIL launched a press campaign this week to warn against Government plans to deregulate cosmetic laser treatment. Medical negligence lawyer Lucy Norton comments.
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18 June 2008
Statins may cut caesarean section risk
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16 June 2008
Springer v Covent Garden Market Authority
Mr Springer received £70,000 in compensation. He developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos dust during the build of New Covent Garden Market.
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16 June 2008
Half of patients do not know they have a choice of hospital
Medical negligence lawyer Sue Brown comments on this article which was published in The Daily Telegraph on 12 June 2008.
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16 June 2008
Patient choice? Who pays the compensation if it goes wrong?
Medical negligence lawyer, Rosaline Wong looks at the pros and cons of the Government's NHS Choice and initiatives to shorten waiting lists.
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12 June 2008
New group of Mesothelioma victims compensated
Our specialist industrial disease lawyers can help you make a claim.
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12 June 2008
Sofa burns - Group Litigation Order approved
Boyes Turner are acting for a significant number of those who have suffered rashes, skin allergies, burns, respiratory problems and other side effects.
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09 June 2008
Boyes Turner boosts industrial disease team with Shoosmiths hire
Boyes Turner has further strengthened its market leading Industrial Disease group with the hire of Richard Wargent from Shoosmiths solicitors in Basingstoke.
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08 June 2008
Pleural Plaques promise
Pleural plaques consultation paper to be published by mid-June.
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08 June 2008
Medical negligence during birth - erbs palsy
Health service is sued for £65 million after mistakes in childbirth left children with paralysed arms.
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04 June 2008
Sofa dermatitis claim - First 'fatal claim' for Argos toxic sofas
The Sun reported on 5 June that Elizabeth McLaughlin, a mother of three, died from a severe reaction to a toxic Chinese sofa purchsed from Argos.
Read

04 June 2008
NHS scandal: dying cancer victim was forced to pay
A woman dying of cancer was denied free National Health Service treatment in her final months because she had paid privately for a drug to try to prolong her life.
Read

04 June 2008
Stillbirths - obstetric medical negligence?
The Times reported this week that nearly 4,000 babies are stillborn every year in the UK and propose that more post mortems could change that tragic figure. Nina Ali, a medical negligence lawyer at Boyes Turner comments.
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04 June 2008
Rise in stillbirths
Alarming statistics published from SANDS show that 17 babies died from stillbirth or neonatal death syndrome in the UK every day.
Read

04 June 2008
Hospital surgery death rates to be made public
The Guardian reported this week that the government is preparing to publish for the first time the death rates of patients undergoing major surgery at NHS hospitals in England. Medical negligence lawyer Susan Brown comments.
Read

28 May 2008
GP negligence - failing to refer heart patients
According to a Europe-wide survey led by the Sticares Cardiovascular Research Foundation in the Netherlands, many GPs, and even some hospital specialists, are failing to follow guidelines for managing heart failure.
Read

28 May 2008
Birth and neo-natal injury - Pre-eclampsia tests not accurate enough!
According to a recent study, tests for pre-eclampsia, a serious condition that causes high blood pressure in pregnancy, are not accurate enough. Lucy Norton comments.
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27 May 2008
Sofa dermatitis claim - The Sun - Poisoned Settee Did This To Baby
Read

23 May 2008
NHS in Wales quibbling over who should pay for treatments
Medical negligence lawyer, Susan Brown, comments.
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23 May 2008
Missing medical records - concerns over patient safety
Another issue regarding patient safety has been highlighted by a recent survey which reveals that thousands of outpatient appointments take place each year without the doctor having the patient's medical records. Susan Brown comments.
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22 May 2008
Queen's speech promises to reform law relating to medical negligence compensation
The draft Queen's speech promised to reform the coroners system and the law relating to damages.
Read

21 May 2008
Clash over 24 weeks abortion limit
MPs reject challenge to Britan's abortion laws to lower the 24 week time limit for abortions. Rosaline Wong of Boyes Turner comments.
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21 May 2008
Medical negligence claim - failure to act upon abnormal fetal heart trace led to stillbirth
Here we look at the case of a woman whose baby's stillbirth was caused by the hospital's failure to act upon abnornal fetal heart trace.
Read

21 May 2008
Possible Meningitis B Vaccine Tested
A possible vaccine against meningitis B has shown "encouraging" results in preliminary clinical trials.
Read

20 May 2008
Boy brain-damaged after accident on bouncy castle to receive £1 million in compensation
Sam Harris now 13 was left brain damaged following an accident on a bouncy castle at a childrens party when he was 11.
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20 May 2008
Could you have been affected by the 1983 MoD Donnington Fire?
Specialist industrial disease lawyer Helen Childs of Reading law firm Boyes Turner is holding 'open days' in Telford on 28 and 29 May 2008 to offer free specialist legal advice to people who may have been exposed to asbestos fibres at the 1983 Donnington fire.
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20 May 2008
Boy sustained traumatic brain injury after accident on a bouncy castle
11 year old boy was left brain damaged after an accident on a bouncy castle at a children's party.
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15 May 2008
Most inpatients are happy with their care
Rosaline Wong looks at the Healthcare Commission's published survey which suggest that over 90% of patients treated in NHS hospitals are generally satisfied with their care.
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15 May 2008
Hospital negligence - midwifery errors
Medical negligence expert Rosaline Wong looks at the effects of midwifery errors in medical negligence cases, including failure to detect early signs of pre-eclampsia; negligent management of ante natal care; failure to act upon abnormal fetal trace; failure to listen to baby's heartbeat and resusitate at home birth; failure to give Anti-D Immunoglobulin and errors made in injecting local anaesthesia intravenously.
Read

13 May 2008
Watchdog alerts to sofa claims
The BBC 1 Programme "Watchdog" aired on 12 May 2008 reported that allergic reactions to leather furniture purchased from Argos and other retail outlets appears to be as a result of contact with di-methyl fumarate (DMF) which was used on the furniture as an anti moulding agent.
Read

13 May 2008
Compensation Claim - GP failed to diagnose meningitis
GP found liable in negligence to the claimant in a personal injury action for his failure diagnose meningitis.
Read

13 May 2008
Beta blockers may increase surgery risk
The use of beta blocker drugs before surgery to cut the risk of heart problems may be counter-productive, a study suggests.
Read

08 May 2008
Health Charities call for reform of prescription charges to end risk to patients
Health charities call on the Government to reform NHS prescription charges in England.
Read

08 May 2008
Faulty weighing scales - Risk to patient safety
Another risk to patient safety has been identified following an inspection programme by trading standards offficers which found that hospitals were using inappropriate or faulty weighing scales to calculate the dosage of patient's medications.
Read

08 May 2008
Maternal and Child Health Report - stillbirth and neonatal deaths
Enquiry finds stillbirth rates are not falling, but neonatal death rates have reduced.
Read

06 May 2008
Privatised decontamination puts patients at risk
Criticising the government's policy on cleaning equipment, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) says operations are being cancelled because equipment is being damaged and delayed by out-sourced private decontamination centres being rolled out across the NHS.
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06 May 2008
New GP surgeries to open at weekends
Health Secretary Alan Johnson, has announced new Government plans that will see patients able to visit their GPs at evenings and weekends at 12 new surgeries around England.
Read

28 April 2008
Pioneering Gene therapy improves sight
An 18-year-old whose sight was failing has had his vision improved in a pioneering operation carried out by doctors at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Read

28 April 2008
Hospital negligence - healthcare-associated infection
The Healthcare Commission has launched the biggest inspection programme ever carried out in NHS acute trusts to check whether they are meeting standards on infection control.
Read

27 April 2008
Inquest Links Mesothelioma Death to MoD Donnington Fire
The verdict from an inquest into the death of Ellen Paddock who died last year found that her death was linked to a massive fire at the MoD in Donnington in 1983.
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23 April 2008
Hospital negligence - nurse failing in her patient duty
Medical News Today has reported that a registered nurse from a hospital in Poole has been struck off the register after failing to care for a patient properly.
Read

23 April 2008
NHS 'falling behind' on care for diabete sufferers
BBC News has reported that the charity 'Diabetes UK' is concerned that Government targets for improving diabetes care may be missed as local health providers are failing to offer key services.
Read

22 April 2008
Blood clot complications after surgery - new drug Pradaxa could save thousands
BBC news has reported that wider use of Pradaxa, a new blood-thinning drug to stop blood clots could save thousands of lives a year.
Read

22 April 2008
Thalidomide is back - is it worth the risk?
The European drug agency has given clearance for thalidomide to be sold on prescription in Europe as a powerful cancer treatment for the newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
Read

17 April 2008
Medical negligence - maternity deaths inquiry launched
BBC News has reported that an inquiry is under way at Northwick Park Hospital maternity unit after 3 more deaths were reported within the last ten months.
Read

15 April 2008
Pneumococcal bug poses new threat to children
BBC News has reported that a strain of bacteria which can cause pneumonia and meningitis in children is on the rise in England and Wales.
Read

15 April 2008
Cerebral Palsy Compensation Claims - grandparents often initiate investigations
Of the 135 or so families that contacted Boyes Turner in 2007 who have a family member with cerebral palsy, over 30 came from the grandparent of the child. Does this suggest that parents can be reluctant to initiate a claim for their child?
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11 April 2008
NHS Redress plans stalled in England but going ahead in Wales
Ministers in England are 'reconsidering' plans for the NHS Redress Scheme in England.
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11 April 2008
Plans to introduce tendering for medical negligence claims shelved for at least 5 years
It has been reported that as part of the settlement terms of the Law Society ending its judicial review proceedings against the Legal Services Commission (LSC), the LSC has given a commitment not to introduce Best Value Tendering before 2013.
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10 April 2008
Healthcare watchdog calls on NHS to learn from patients' complaints
The Healthcare Commission is urging NHS trusts to learn from patients' complaints and improve complaints handling, with key proposals including apologising more often when they do make mistakes.
Read

10 April 2008
Healthcare Commission publishes results of survey of staff at every NHS trust in England
More than 155,000 staff give their views on working for the NHS. Survey results of NHS staff in England show that there are fewer medical errors and near misses.
Read

07 April 2008
UK fertility safety for women is 'among the worst in Europe'
Mothers' health may be put at risk in the quest for high pregnancy rates at British IVF clinics, warn experts.
Read

03 April 2008
Medical negligence - compensation awarded for injustice in residential care
A joint report published by the Local Government Ombudsman and the Health Service Ombudsman for England found that the level of care provided by Buckinghamshire County Council and the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Mental Health Partnership Trust for a man with severe learning disabilities was unacceptable. Susan Brown a leading medical negligence lawyer at Boyes Turner comments.
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02 April 2008
Medical negligence - drugs for dementia 'killing thousands'
The Times online reported this week that the drugs prescribed to make dementia sufferers more manageable in care homes could be killing more than 23,000 people prematurely each year. Nina Ali, a medical negligence lawyer from Boyes Turner comments;
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26 March 2008
Medical negligence at birth - nurse struck off
Medical News Today has reported that two midwives have been found unfit to practise by an independent Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel this week after failing to adequately care for a 'high risk' patient during labour. Leading medical negligence lawyer Adrian Desmond comments.
Read

26 March 2008
Cancer patients given untested drugs
BBC News has reported that in a bid to halve the time it takes to develop new drugs, the Department of Health has approved a move to allow the NHS to give cancer drugs which have not yet been tested on humans to terminally ill patients. Medical negligence lawyer Nina Ali comments on the decision.
Read

18 March 2008
Prostate cancer medical services vary - early diagnosis needed
BBC News online reported this week that health experts are calling for improvements in prostate cancer services to help tackle the wide variations in care seen across England. Boyes Turner medical negligence lawyer, Nina Ali, comments.
Read

10 March 2008
Cancer medical negligence - delay in diagnosis
The Times Online reported this week that over the past ten years the NHS has paid out almost £100 million in negligence claims due to medical errors in cancer treatment. Lucy Norton, medical negligence lawyer at Boyes Turner comments.
Read

07 March 2008
Pleural Plaques Scottish Legislation
A regulatory impact assessment consultation to assess the affect of proposed pleural plaques legislation on businesses in Scotland has been issued by the Scottish Government.
Read

05 March 2008
Failure - maternity units - variable quality of care
Read

04 March 2008
Waiting times up - delay in diagnosis?
The average NHS wait has risen under Labour Government.
Read

03 March 2008
Foreign accident compensation - cross border Road Traffic Accident (RTA) claim
A recent ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has confirmed that injured motorists are entitled to bring an action directly against the responsible person's insurer before the courts in the place where the injured party is living.
Read

29 February 2008
Primary Care Trusts criticised
The National Audit Office has criticised Primary Care Trusts for not using the GP contracts introduced in 2004 to force better access for patients.
Read

29 February 2008
Hospital medical negligence - nurse falsifying records
Read

27 February 2008
Anti-depressants' 'little effect'
BBC News recently reported that according to research, new generation anti-depressants have little clinical benefit for most patients.
Read

26 February 2008
Negligent medical staff - nurse struck off for falsifying records
Medical News Today recently reported that a 37 year old registered adult nurse from Wigan, Lancashire has been struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council register after being found guilty of falsifying a patient's records in an attempt to cover up omissions in his care.
Read

25 February 2008
Hospital negligence - swab left inside Caesarean mother
BBC News recently reported that a woman underwent an operation to remove a swab left inside her during a Caesarean delivery.
Read

21 February 2008
Limiting Obesity Operations - patients referred back to GPs
GP magazine "Pulse" reported this week that consultants undertaking "limiting obesity operations" such as gastric banding and gastric bypass, sent half the patients referred to them back to their GPs.
Read

14 February 2008
"Payment by Results" scheme interfering with clinical judgement
Has patient care suffered as hospitals try to cut costs?
Read

12 February 2008
Unregulated botox - 16 deaths
US federal regulators are investigating the use of Botox in cosmetic and medical procedures after it was linked with 16 deaths.
Read

12 February 2008
Cerebral palsy children botox
Read

07 February 2008
Delays in diagnosis and treatment leading to years of unnecessary suffering.
Patients with hearing and balance problems suffer delay in diagnosis and treatment due to lack of physicians and multidisciplinary teams.
Read

07 February 2008
Medical negligence - delays in cancer diagnosis
BBC News recently reported that survival rates from cancer in the UK are poorer than in much of Europe. One reason is that the disease is often diagnosed later in the UK.
Read

06 February 2008
Hospital negligence - wrong dosage of epidural anaesthesia during childbirth
Medical negligence lawyers Adrian Desmond and Rosaline Wong from Boyes Turner comment on the case of Mayra Cabrera who died after giving birth to her son Zac in 2004.
Read

05 February 2008
Ski Accidents: Take swift legal advice
If you, like many others, are looking forward to this years' ski season you are no doubt aware that whilst fun in the snow is now part and parcel of half term and Easter holidays there can sometimes be unfortunate accidents which can leave you and your family with more than just after dinner stories of off piste skiing.
Read

05 February 2008
Accidents at work - Warehouse Accident at local firm
Oxford Crown Court - 21 January 2008 An Oxfordshire firm was recently ordered to pay more than £90,000 following an accident which left one of its employees paralysed and living in a nursing home.
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29 January 2008
Thousands of nurses leaving NHS in search of better pay and conditions abroad
The Times online recenty reported that more than 10,000 nurses and midwives left the UK to work abroad in 2006-07, leaving the NHS just a few years away from a staffing crisis.
Read

29 January 2008
Medical negligence - London maternity care - consistently poor
Legal & Medical, a leading online magazine for the medico-legal profession, recently reported that according to a Healthcare Commission report maternity care in the North of England is far better than in London.
Read

28 January 2008
Clegg sets out elderly care plan
As reported on BBC News recently, Nick Clegg, who became Liberal Democrat leader in December, has outlined a £2 billion "care guarantee" plan for the elderly, as part of his proposals to reform the NHS.
Read

25 January 2008
Cerebral palsy and oxygen starvation birth injuries - London maternity service performs poorly
Read

25 January 2008
Medical negligence compensation claims due to failure in diagnosing cancer
Hospital pathologist fails to diagnose cases of cancer.
Read

24 January 2008
East Berkshire Autism Information Day & Exhibition - 26 February
Boyes Turner will be at the event and will be happy to answer any questions you may have on Trusts and Wills. Click below for more information.
Read

24 January 2008
Government set targets could lead to medical negligence - lower standard of care
Yet another politician chanting the "reform for the NHS" mantra.
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21 January 2008
Impact of Court of Appeal Judgement on Compensation Claims
Read

21 January 2008
Medical negligence - Breast cancer follow-up 'lacking' - possible delays in diagnosis
Breast cancer patients are not receiving the best follow-up care according to BBC News.
Read

18 January 2008
Impact of Court of Appeal Judgement on medical negligence claims
Compensation for future loss will be linked to the likely growth in the relevant wage inflation rather than RPI.
Read

17 January 2008
Government concerned over NHS spending on prescription drugs
NHS spending on prescription drugs has risen over the last 10 years. Savings can be made without affecting patient care.
Read

16 January 2008
Hospital negligence - deep cleaning under fire
1500 hospitals ordered to be deep cleaned by Government.
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16 January 2008
Hospital negligence - Woman died from brain haemorrhage during childbirth
Hospital failed to address specialist care needed for woman with rare condition.
Read

16 January 2008
Deadly new form of MRSA emerges
A deadly strain of the superbug MRSA which can lead to a flesh eating form of pneumonia has emerged.
Read

14 January 2008
Hospital administration negligence putting lives at risk
Read

10 January 2008
Medical negligence claims - NICE delay guidance to NHS on treatments available to patients
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence criticised by Health Committee.
Read

08 January 2008
Medical negligence claims - patients refused treatment or surgery due to 'healthy lifestyle targets'
The Prime Minister has announced an 'NHS Constitution' that could mean patients may have to change their lifestyle to recieve healthcare. Should patients be responsible for their own entitlement to NHS care?
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03 January 2008
Product liability claims - How safe are your Christmas Toys?
Our specialist personal injury lawyers have dealt with a wide range of compensation claims against retailers and manufacturers following injury as a result of a defective product.
Read

03 January 2008
Animal attack compensation - Dangerous Dogs
If you or any member of your family is attacked by a dog or any other animal you may be entitled to compensation.
Read

19 December 2007
Disabled Children Review
Earlier this year the finding of the Government's Disabled Children Review was published.
Read

19 December 2007
Every Disabled Child Matters Campaign
Read

10 December 2007
Don't stick it, Stop it
Mencap recently published report on bullying.
Read

10 December 2007
No Voice, No Choice
Scope's results of a recent survey on disabled people's experiences of accessing communication aids.
Read

07 December 2007
Scottish Government to introduce Asbestos claims Bill
The Scottish Government is to introduce a Bill to reverse the House of Lords Judgment published in 17 Ocotber, whihc ruled that asymptomatic pleural plaques do not give rise to a cause of action under the law of damages.
Read

06 December 2007
Negligent nurse - maladministration of drugs
Mental health nurse charged with several accounts of poor record keeping and maladministration of drugs.
Read

06 December 2007
Buckinghamshire woman's cancer caused by asbestos in her own home
Boyes Turner's industrial disease lawyers are acting for Pamela Hayes who was born in 1948 and has been diagnosed with the deadly asbestos related disease mesothelioma.
Read

27 November 2007
Nurse struck off for negligent care
Nurse failed to wash her hands after treating a patient with MRSA.
Read

22 November 2007
Hospital failings - trauma care concern
Trauma care could be better according to National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death.
Read

22 November 2007
Hospital negligence - new Superbug
Read

15 November 2007
Cerebral Palsy - The Disabled Children (Family Support) Bill 2007
Read

15 November 2007
C Difficile hospital escapes prosecution
Read

08 November 2007
Cerebral palsy - Mental Capacity Act 2005 and changes to the Court of Protection
Read

24 October 2007
Trust Issues
Read

22 October 2007
Payout to NHS patients - 9 billion in compensation
The number of mistakes by NHS Trusts appear to be on the rise.
Read

18 October 2007
NHS not learning from their medical mistakes
The news comes as no great surprise to Adrian Desmond, Partner in Boyes Turner's specialist Medical Negligence group.
Read

18 October 2007
Maternity units pay extra premium for medical negligence
Read

18 October 2007
Healthcare watchdog pledges tough action on behalf of patients on failures in infection control
Healthcare Commissions pledges to carry out more stringent assessment of Trusts' infection control practices.
Read

17 October 2007
Pleural Plaques Judgement
Read

15 October 2007
Medical negligence - UK Healthcare system falls further behind
Artcile published by Legal & Medical highlights the fact that the UK's health system is failing behind its European neighbours.
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10 October 2007
Hospital negligence - Maidstone Hospital Deaths
Patient deaths due to outbreaks of C. difficile at Maidstone Hospital.
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09 October 2007
Will hysterectomy give cerebral palsy girl a better life?
Read

02 October 2007
Call for NHS hospitals to provide dignity in care to older people
Read

17 September 2007
Product liability claim - Argos, Homebase, Land of Leather and SCS Sofas and reclining chairs
Have you been suffering skin irritation after purchasing leather or leather effect furniture?
Read

16 September 2007
Asbestos cases triple in a year
According to Legal & Medical criminal prosecutions brought under the control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 more than tripled last year to 37.
Read

19 August 2007
Cerebral palsy children have similar quality of life as their healthy peers
Read

15 August 2007
Medical negligence compensation awarded for woman who changed mind on abortion
Hospital admits failure. Medical professionals went ahead with abortion procedure without getting confirmation that the mother had consented.
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13 August 2007
Cerebral palsy - parents of disabled children face poverty
Read

13 August 2007
Hospital negligence - hospital admits error over cancer treatment deaths
Two cancer patients die due to hospital staff miscalculating durg dosage.
Read

01 July 2007
Hospital negligence - NHS hygiene criticised
Legal & Medical, one in four NHS trusts in England is failing to meet standards of cleanliness and infection control as set out by the Department of Health's compulsory hygiene code.
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27 June 2007
Calls to speed up NHS complaints
Read

26 June 2007
Medical negligence during surgery - instruments left inside patients
283 medical negligence claims have been made against NHS Trusts.
Read

26 June 2007
GP negligence
Better care needed from GPs at night time and weekends according to Gordon Brown.
Read

04 June 2007
Medical negligence - delay in treatment for stroke
Reports show that stroke patients are having to deal with unacceptable waits for brain scans and starting treatment.
Read

03 June 2007
Stroke - unacceptable waits for brain scans and treatment
Read

03 June 2007
Medical negligence - healthcare associated infection
Government will carry out unannounced inspections at 120 NHS Trusts over the next year in order to prevent and manage healthcare-associated infections.
Read

30 April 2007
Oxygen starvation claim - 1.25m compensation for birth injury
Read

28 April 2007
Greater rights and freedoms to disabled people
Read

30 March 2007
Cerebral palsy - Mental Capacity Act 2005
The Department of Health introduce a new Independent Mental Capacity Advocate service.
Read

30 March 2007
Does receiving compensation disentitle me to my means tested benefits?
Careful thought now has to be given as to whether receiving an interim award will in fact be in the best interests of a Claimant receiving means tested benefits.
Read

16 March 2007
New Lawyer for the Industrial Disease team
The Industrial Disease team is boosted by another new lawyer
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02 March 2007
Cerebral palsy - respite care
Read

30 January 2007
The Ashley X Treatment - Help Scope (the cerebral palsy charity) defend disabled children's rights
Read

30 December 2006
Cerebral palsy - services for disabled children
Tom Clarke MP, chair of a cross-party group reports.
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20 December 2006
Cerebral palsy - does the UK have a compensation culture?
View the Government figures for the last five years.
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27 November 2006
£70,000 compensation for firework accident
Successful personal injury claim for man who was struck in the face by a stray firework.
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27 November 2006
£60,000 compensation for boating accident claim
Our specialist personal injury lawyers make successful accident claim.
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21 November 2006
£600k compensation for cyclist knocked down by motor vehicle
Fatal injury compensation claim - cyclist killed by motor vehicle.
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21 November 2006
£1 million awarded in compensation for road traffic accident claim
Lawyers make successful personal injury claim for man who suffered severe brain injury and optic nerve damage in car accident.
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21 November 2006
£850,000 awarded in compensation for fatal moped accident
Man lost control of moped due to appalling road conditions. Lawyers make successful personal injury claim for fatal moped accident.
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21 November 2006
Man suffered severe brain injury and damage to optic nerve - case settled after 2.5 years
Man was a passenger in a car when it lost control. He suffered a severe brain injury and damage to his optic nerve.
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20 November 2006
Cerebral palsy claim - lump sum or periodical payment?
Which approach is most beneficial for the child?
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