Skip to main content

Contact us to arrange your
FREE initial consultation

Email us Call me back
 

Leading charity, Diabetes UK, estimates that diabetes leads to almost 9600 leg, toe or foot amputations in the UK every year. That’s that 185 diabetes-related lower limb (leg/foot/toe) amputations each week. The charity estimates that 80% (or four out of every five) of these could have been prevented.

The estimated number of preventable amputations is based on the large proportion of these cases which begin with foot ulcers. Unhealed ulcers and foot infections are the main cause of diabetes-related amputations. Foot ulcers in people with diabetes are avoidable with proper foot care. They are also treatable if the first signs are spotted early and acted upon quickly but are often unrecognised and untreated in people with diabetes until it is too late to save the foot or avoid amputation.

Diabetes affects more than 4.9 million people in the UK. Negligent diabetic healthcare is also the cause of some of the most common types of claims that we see against GPs. This is because diabetes is a risk factor for serious medical complications and conditions including amputation.

Client Story Client story - Kevin Ridsdale amputation claim

Recent diabetic amputation cases

£1.3m settlement for a man with diabetes who suffered a below-knee amputation after a GP practice nurse failed to refer him for multidisciplinary foot care for an infected foot wound. Our client benefited from £175,000 interim payments which met his urgent needs whilst he underwent a trial of prosthesis. 

£950,000 compensation settlement for a 60-year-old man with diabetes who needed a below-knee amputation after negligent GP and hospital care led to delay in diagnosis and treatment of Charcot foot. Earlier in the claim, we obtained interim (advance) payments for our client which paid for specialist prosthetic limbs, including a water activity limb which allowed him to return to his former hobby of kayaking.

£600,000 compensation for a man with diabetes who received negligent care from a walk-in centre and hospital after he ran over his foot with a lawn mower. Mistakes in the treatment of his foot injury led to a below knee amputation. Our client used a £75,000 interim payment earlier in the claim to pay for specialist prosthetic (artificial) limbs, including a water activity limb. 

£210,000 compensation for a 70 year-old man with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy who needed a below-knee amputation after GPs and practise nurses at his GP surgery failed to act on his infection and refer him for specialist foot care.  Our client’s diabetes and peripheral neuropathy put him at increased risk of amputation after he suffered a minor injury to his foot.

Liability (fault) judgment in an ongoing case for a client with diabetes who needed a below knee amputation after a nurse practitioner failed to treat his foot injury as a foot-care emergency and refer him to a multidisciplinary foot care (MDFC) team. Delays in admission to hospital and treatment with intravenous (IV) antibiotics led to sepsis and amputation. An interim payment of £100,000 was obtained to pay for a trial of prosthesis whilst we work with our experts to value the claim.

Why are diabetics at greater risk of amputation?

When an individual has diabetes, their body struggles to control their blood sugar (glucose) level. If blood glucose levels are persistently high, this damages the blood vessels and affects the circulation of blood to the legs and feet. People with diabetes often have reduced sensation (feeling) in their feet as a result of their poor blood circulation affecting their nerves. This means that they are less aware of minor injuries to their feet, which can then go untreated, leaving them at greater risk of serious foot problems, including Charcot foot, ulcers, infection and gangrene, which lead to lower limb amputation. 

The pain from a minor cut, scratch or blister is immediately noticeable to someone who can feel their feet normally. The pain or discomfort alerts them to the need to protect the damaged skin to let it heal. A person with diabetes who cannot feel their feet remains unaware of the cut or blister until it has developed into an ulcer or become infected. By then, it is more difficult to treat. The problem is compounded when the person with diabetes also has impaired vision from retinopathy, preventing them from carrying out effective visual checks of their feet.

Read more

What conditions and complications of diabetes can lead to amputation compensation claims?

Our specialist amputation lawyers have recovered damages settlements and awards for amputee clients with diabetes following negligent treatment of:

  • Charcot foot
  • vascular and circulatory problems, such as peripheral ischaemia
  • DVT, thrombosis and coagulation problems
  • ulcers
  • minor foot injuries, such as cuts and scratches
  • infection, such as sepsis and gangrene
Read more

How much compensation can I claim for an amputation caused by negligent diabetic care?

Boyes Turner’s nationally acclaimed serious injury solicitors have recovered medical negligence compensation for amputees with diabetes for: 

  • pain and suffering
  • specialist prosthetics (artificial legs, arms, hands, feet)
  • rehabilitation costs
  • specialist equipment and aids
  • adapted vehicles
  • necessary adaptations to their home
  • therapies and counselling
  • cost of care and domestic assistance
  • loss of earnings and pension
  • private medical treatment
  • additional costs arising from disability, such as increased holiday costs
Read more

How Boyes Turner helps amputee clients after medical negligence

For over 30 years, Boyes Turner’s top-rated and successful medical negligence team have helped clients disabled by diabetic amputation recover compensation to rebuild their lives.

Our clients benefit from early rehabilitation, specialist prosthetics, therapies and equipment, adaptations to their homes and vehicles to help restore their mobility and independence. Alongside the physical, therapeutic and psychological benefits of compensation for amputation, compensation brings financial security, by replacing lost earnings and the other expenses associated with severe disability.

Read more

Meet your team

Susan Brown photo

Susan Brown

Partner

Julie Marsh headshot

Julie Marsh

Partner

Richard Money-Kyrle headshot

Richard Money-Kyrle

Partner

Sita Soni headshot

Sita Soni

Senior Associate - solicitor

Vanessa Wand photo

Vanessa Wand

Senior associate - solicitor

Tara Byrne photo

Tara Byrne

Associate - Solicitor

Rachel Makore headshot

Rachel Makore

Associate - solicitor

Alpa Rana headshot

Alpa Rana

Associate - solicitor

Fran Rothwell

Fran Rothwell

Associate solicitor

Ben Ireland headshot

Ben Ireland

Solicitor

Alice Carley headshot

Alice Carley

Paralegal

Audrey Elmore headshot

Audrey Elmore

Medical records coordinator

Nicky Melville headshot

Nicky Melville

Professional support assistant

Susan Brown photo
Julie Marsh headshot
Richard Money-Kyrle headshot
Sita Soni headshot
Vanessa Wand photo
Tara Byrne photo
Rachel Makore headshot
Alpa Rana headshot
Fran Rothwell
Ben Ireland headshot
Alice Carley headshot
Audrey Elmore headshot
Nicky Melville headshot

Related news

Related cases

What is diabetes?

How can diabetics reduce their risk of serious complications including amputation?

How can people with diabetes reduce their risk of Charcot foot?

What types of negligent diabetes care lead to amputation?

What is Charcot foot?

What are the symptoms of Charcot foot?

How much compensation can you get for medical negligence?

How to make a medical negligence claim?

How long do medical negligence claims take?

How to fund a medical negligence claim?

Will I need a medical examination if I make a medical negligence claim for compensation?

Can I make a claim on behalf of a child?

What can medical negligence compensation pay for?

What is HSSIB?

How can you prove medical negligence?

Is there a time limit for claiming medical negligence compensation?

Will I need to go to court to claim medical negligence compensation?

What is causation in medical negligence claims?

Can I claim against the NHS?

Who can make a medical negligence claim?

What is MNSI?

Diabetic amputation cases

View all

Awards & Accreditations

Our teams have been nationally recognised over the past decade for their dedication and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients

             Brake | The Road Safety Charity

What our clients say

Our clients constantly recognize us as the most experienced, professional, efficient and supportive

See more

"Julie Marsh is a first rate litigator"

Julie Marsh is a first rate litigator who adds real value to all her cases. I have always been impressed not just by her expertise as a clinical negligence lawyer but by the way she treats every client as an individual and works on their case as if it is the most important thing in the world, which to many clients it really is.

King's Counsel

"You have given fantastic support and guidance"

Boyes Turner have a great asset in Julie Marsh, she has handled my case with such professionalism and has kept me informed at every stage over the 6 years. She has given me guidance, support and that personal touch where I could ring or email at any time and she would always answer and give me answers to any questions I had. Would recommend without hesitation. Thank you

Boyes Turner Client

"I have been impressed"

Tara Byrne kept me well informed at all stages of my claim. I have been impressed with the way my case was handled, and the time scale within which a settlement was reached.”

Boyes Turner Client

"Very Professional "

Boyes Turner helped me through one of the toughest times in my life. They were very professional whilst remaining friendly. At times the process was emotionally tough but they were very patient with me and went through everything with me until I understood it. I cannot recommend them enough. 

Boyes Turner Client

"We cannot thank Susan and her team at Boyes Turner enough"

Words cannot express how grateful we are to Susan and her team for the level of commitment and dedication shown to our family during a time which would be difficult for anyone. Susan demonstrates a calm professional manner which helped us to feel at ease. Her level of knowledge has proven to be the best in the field and we fully recommend her to anyone seeking to investigate birth injury claims. You can be confident that Susan and her team will scrutinise the medical notes thoroughly and will keep you well informed throughout the process. We are very pleased with the outcome of our child’s case and know that her work has resulted in justice being achieved. Our family will now be able to move forward in the knowledge that the finances are securely in place for our child to receive a suitable care package, purchase equipment and receive necessary lifelong therapy. We cannot thank Susan and her team at Boyes Turner enough.

Boyes Turner Client