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Meningitis negligence claims

Our medical negligence solicitors secure life-changing compensation settlements for children and adults who have suffered severe injury and disability from meningitis as a result of negligent medical or emergency care.

Meningitis is a serious, life-threatening infection which must be treated very quickly. Healthcare professionals are expected to recognise and respond quickly to the symptoms and signs of meningitis because any delays in diagnosis and treatment can result in severe physical and neurological disability from brain injury, sepsis, and amputation.

If you or your child have suffered severe injury or the loss of a loved one as a result of negligent delays in the diagnosis and treatment of meningitis infection, we can help you claim compensation.

Our medical negligence specialists help clients with severe physical and neurological disability from meningitis secure interim payments and outstanding settlements which pay for care, rehabilitation and therapies, specialist equipment, prostheses and adapted accommodation whilst providing the financial and practical support that our clients need to restore their independence and manage their disability.

Starting your meningitis claim

For more than 30 years, Boyes Turner's medical negligence solicitors have guided injured patients through the claims process to secure the compensation and specialist support that they need to manage their disability and rebuild their lives.

You can contact us by telephone or by email for free, confidential advice from a medical negligence solicitor. We will ask you to tell us briefly about your injury and your emergency or medical care, and advise you about your time limits and whether we can help you investigate your claim. Once our investigations confirm you have grounds for a claim, we will notify the defendant healthcare provider (usually represented by NHS Resolution) on your behalf and invite them to respond, giving them an opportunity to admit liability (responsibility for your injuries) before court proceedings are issued.

If liability is admitted, we will obtain a judgment from the court and apply for a substantial interim payment to meet your needs arising from your injury and disability. If NHS Resolution deny liability, we will advise you about the best way to proceed with your claim. This may involve issuing court proceedings or inviting NHS Resolution to enter into settlement negotiations or mediation.

£27 million settlement
We secured compensation for a child whose brain injury and complex neurological disability was caused by delayed treatment of meningitis.
Read the story

We obtained a liability judgment and interim payments of £300,000, which paid for a case manager, support worker, physiotherapy, occupational therapy (OT), speech and language therapy, canine therapy and psychological treatment, whilst we worked with our experts and the family to assess our client’s lifelong needs and the full value of his claim.

"Following negotiations, we secured a settlement which will provide our client with a £6.6 million lump sum and guaranteed lifelong payments of up to £276,000 per year to meet the cost of care."

Our previous meningitis cases

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What our clients say

"Fantastic service"

Received an amazing service from Boyes Turner. From the moment they took on my case, their communication was excellent. Even when my allocated solicitor was on leave , the team ensured there was progress on my case. I got a very good outcome on my case and it’s all because I choose one of the best firms to handle my case. I wouldn’t hesitate recommending this firm.

"Medical Negligence"

I approached Ben Ireland for a medical negligence case. He explained everything in laymen terms with empathy and understanding. I would highly recommend him and would use him again.

Edward

"Medical Negligence Claim"

I have nothing but great things to say about Boyes Turner and the way my case was handled. I had the pleasure of having Julie Marsh assigned to my claim and she has been the utmost professional, kept me informed, explained everything I didn’t understand. She has given me support, guidance, understanding and most of all compassion all the way through. A great asset to your company, and a great outcome. Well done Boyes Turner, would not hesitate to use you again.

Anonymous

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart"

Thank you so much Boyes Turner LLP personally for Ben Ireland for being supportive and very professional,can’t thank you enough.It’s was pleasure to deal with to get closure.Wonderful legal knowledge.Highly recommended and appreciate for everything what’s been done.

Jelena

"Great law firm"

Totally recommend Ben who dealt with our case. He was very professional but also very approachable and his communication was excellent. He always got back to us with our many questions and never made us feel like we were wasting his time. I would really recommend this law firm.

Catherine

Meningitis negligence claims FAQs

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the protective membranes which cover the brain and spinal cord. This protective covering is called ‘the meninges’. Meningitis is most commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections, but can have other causes, such as cancer or fungal infection.

Meningitis is a medical emergency. Delays in diagnosis and treatment of this dangerous condition can lead to the patient’s death or severe, permanent disability.

Who is at risk of meningitis?

Anyone can be affected by meningitis, but those at highest risk include:

babies:

  • from Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection, E coli, TB or other infection;
  • if born prematurely before 37 weeks gestation;
  • whose mother had a high temperature during childbirth;
  • if born more than 18 hours after their mother’s waters broke (rupture of membranes);
  • if their mother’s previous child had GBS infection.

young children:

  • teenagers, young adults and students living away from home for the first time;
  • older adults with compromised immune systems.

What are the signs of meningitis in babies?

Babies with meningitis may show some or all of the following signs, which may appear in any order:

  • a high temperature (fever) with cold hands and feet;
  • vomiting or refusing food;
  • being unhappy about being handled;
  • drowsy, sleepy, floppy or unresponsive;
  • breathing rapidly or grunting;
  • unusual cry or moaning;
  • a tense, bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the baby’s head);
  • neck stiffness;
  • photophobia (discomfort in bright light);
  • fits (seizures or convulsions);
  • pale blotchy skin, spots, or a rash which doesn’t fade in colour when the side of a glass is pressed firmly against the skin.

Many people think of the rash as a classic sign for meningitis, but many people with meningitis infection do not have the rash. Do not wait for the rash to seek urgent medical help if any other signs are present. However, the appearance of the rash is a medical emergency. If it appears, call 999.

What are the signs of meningitis in adults, teenagers or older children?

Teenagers, adults or older children with meningitis may have some but not all of the following signs (in any order):

  • a high temperature (fever) with cold hands and feet;
  • drowsy or difficult to wake;
  • confusion or irritability;
  • vomiting;
  • severe muscle pain;
  • neck stiffness;
  • severe headache;
  • photophobia (discomfort in bright light);
  • fits (seizures or convulsions);
  • pale blotchy skin, spots or a rash which doesn’t fade in colour when the side of a glass is pressed firmly against the skin.

Do not wait for the skin rash to seek urgent medical help if other signs of meningitis are present. Meningitis can present without a rash, but if it appears, this is a medical emergency – call 999.

What mistakes lead to meningitis medical negligence claims?

As meningitis develops rapidly into life-threatening and permanently disabling injury, meningitis compensation claims most commonly arise from delays in diagnosis, referral, emergency transportation and admission to hospital, or failure by hospital staff to treat the patient urgently with antibiotics.

Meningitis negligence claims often arise when someone has suffered severe injuries or has died after a GP or hospital staff:

  • delayed or failed to recognise signs and suspect or diagnose meningitis;
  • delayed or failed to refer or admit the patient to hospital;
  • failed urgently to provide or delayed treatment with IV antibiotics;
  • failed to monitor a pregnant woman with group B streptococcus (GBS);
  • failed to give antibiotics to a pregnant woman with group B streptococcus (GBS):
    • where the mother had a GBS urine infection in pregnancy;
    • where the mother’s waters broke before 37 weeks gestation;
    • where the baby was delivered by caesarean section;
  • failed to monitor a baby at high risk of developing GBS infection.

What injuries can lead to a meningitis compensation claim?

We are experienced in helping clients recover substantial compensation after meningitis negligence has led to:

  • death;
  • brain injury, including cerebral palsy or neonatal brain injury;
  • limb loss and amputation;
  • long-term disability, including:
    • brain injury and neurological injury;
    • loss of hearing;
    • blindness or visual impairment;
    • epilepsy (seizures or fits);
    • learning disability;
    • problems with speech and communication.

Where septicaemia or sepsis is also present, additional injuries may include:

  • organ damage;
  • scarring;
  • limb-loss or loss of fingers or toes.
 

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the protective membranes which cover the brain and spinal cord. This protective covering is called ‘the meninges’. Meningitis is most commonly caused by viral or bacterial infections, but can have other causes, such as cancer or fungal infection.

Meningitis is a medical emergency. Delays in diagnosis and treatment of this dangerous condition can lead to the patient’s death or severe, permanent disability.

Who is at risk of meningitis?

Anyone can be affected by meningitis, but those at highest risk include:

babies:

  • from Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection, E coli, TB or other infection;
  • if born prematurely before 37 weeks gestation;
  • whose mother had a high temperature during childbirth;
  • if born more than 18 hours after their mother’s waters broke (rupture of membranes);
  • if their mother’s previous child had GBS infection.

young children:

  • teenagers, young adults and students living away from home for the first time;
  • older adults with compromised immune systems.

What are the signs of meningitis in babies?

Babies with meningitis may show some or all of the following signs, which may appear in any order:

  • a high temperature (fever) with cold hands and feet;
  • vomiting or refusing food;
  • being unhappy about being handled;
  • drowsy, sleepy, floppy or unresponsive;
  • breathing rapidly or grunting;
  • unusual cry or moaning;
  • a tense, bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the baby’s head);
  • neck stiffness;
  • photophobia (discomfort in bright light);
  • fits (seizures or convulsions);
  • pale blotchy skin, spots, or a rash which doesn’t fade in colour when the side of a glass is pressed firmly against the skin.

Many people think of the rash as a classic sign for meningitis, but many people with meningitis infection do not have the rash. Do not wait for the rash to seek urgent medical help if any other signs are present. However, the appearance of the rash is a medical emergency. If it appears, call 999.

What are the signs of meningitis in adults, teenagers or older children?

Teenagers, adults or older children with meningitis may have some but not all of the following signs (in any order):

  • a high temperature (fever) with cold hands and feet;
  • drowsy or difficult to wake;
  • confusion or irritability;
  • vomiting;
  • severe muscle pain;
  • neck stiffness;
  • severe headache;
  • photophobia (discomfort in bright light);
  • fits (seizures or convulsions);
  • pale blotchy skin, spots or a rash which doesn’t fade in colour when the side of a glass is pressed firmly against the skin.

Do not wait for the skin rash to seek urgent medical help if other signs of meningitis are present. Meningitis can present without a rash, but if it appears, this is a medical emergency – call 999.

What mistakes lead to meningitis medical negligence claims?

As meningitis develops rapidly into life-threatening and permanently disabling injury, meningitis compensation claims most commonly arise from delays in diagnosis, referral, emergency transportation and admission to hospital, or failure by hospital staff to treat the patient urgently with antibiotics.

Meningitis negligence claims often arise when someone has suffered severe injuries or has died after a GP or hospital staff:

  • delayed or failed to recognise signs and suspect or diagnose meningitis;
  • delayed or failed to refer or admit the patient to hospital;
  • failed urgently to provide or delayed treatment with IV antibiotics;
  • failed to monitor a pregnant woman with group B streptococcus (GBS);
  • failed to give antibiotics to a pregnant woman with group B streptococcus (GBS):
    • where the mother had a GBS urine infection in pregnancy;
    • where the mother’s waters broke before 37 weeks gestation;
    • where the baby was delivered by caesarean section;
  • failed to monitor a baby at high risk of developing GBS infection.

What injuries can lead to a meningitis compensation claim?

We are experienced in helping clients recover substantial compensation after meningitis negligence has led to:

  • death;
  • brain injury, including cerebral palsy or neonatal brain injury;
  • limb loss and amputation;
  • long-term disability, including:
    • brain injury and neurological injury;
    • loss of hearing;
    • blindness or visual impairment;
    • epilepsy (seizures or fits);
    • learning disability;
    • problems with speech and communication.

Where septicaemia or sepsis is also present, additional injuries may include:

  • organ damage;
  • scarring;
  • limb-loss or loss of fingers or toes.
 

Why choose Boyes Turner?

Watch the video
1min 25 secs

“Our clients receive the highest standards of advice and representation and are always treated with compassion, outstanding care and understanding of the physical, emotional, psychological and financial impact that life-changing injury can have upon their lives.”

We are nationally acclaimed for our claimant medical negligence expertise and the outstanding results we achieve for our clients.
Our integrated multidisciplinary team offers our clients a full range of specialist help with compensation, rehabilitation, SEN, deputyship, personal injury trusts and community care.
We secure maximum compensation in claims for adults and children who have suffered catastrophic injury and severe disability, and provide practical support for their families.
We are ranked as leading clinical negligence experts in the Chambers Directory and Legal 500 guides to the legal profession and are accredited for our specialist expertise by the Law Society, AvMA, and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

Our people

Meet your specialist team
 
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Susan Brown

Partner

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Julie Marsh

Partner

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Richard Money-Kyrle

Partner

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Sita Soni

Senior Associate - Solicitor

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Vanessa Wand

Senior Associate - Solicitor

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Tara Pileggi-Byrne

Associate - Solicitor

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Fran Rothwell

Fran Rothwell

Associate - Solicitor

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Ben Ireland

Solicitor

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Alice Carley

Paralegal

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Hannah Lindley

Hannah Lindley

Trainee Solicitor

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Nicky Melville

Paralegal

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Audrey Elmore

Medical records coordinator

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Leading medical negligence solicitors for over 30 years

Our solicitors’ expertise in medical negligence claims and their dedication to improving the lives of their injured clients has been recognised by the legal profession and disability charities for over 30 years.