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Pressure sores, also known as bed sores and pressure ulcers, can develop when a patient in hospital is immobile after surgery or as a result of a debilitating healthcare condition. They can cause pain and scarring, restrict mobility and independence, and can lead to the patient’s death if left untreated. With proper nursing care, pressure sores can usually be prevented.
Pressure sores which develop whilst a patient is immobile in hospital are often caused by negligent medical or nursing care. If you have suffered a severe pressure sore injury as a result of failings in hospital care, you may be able to claim compensation.
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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 hospital 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.
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Our client suffered pressure sore injuries to both heels, which left her with ongoing mobility problems. Our plastic surgical experts believed that future surgery might be of benefit but could not be guaranteed to provide a lasting cure.
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Boyes Turner managed my fathers compensation settlement case as a result of failings in care. This was a very difficult situation for our family and Boyes Turner managed the whole process with complete professionalism and compassion. If you are unfortunate enough to require similar assistance I would highly recommend their team. The case was closed with an out of court settlement, we received a letter of apology alongside reassurances that lessons would be learnt which was of particular importance to us.
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Pressure sores, sometimes called pressure ulcers or bed sores, develop when pressure on the skin in an area of the body reduces the blood and oxygen flow to the skin and tissues, causing the layers of skin and tissues to break down.
People of any age can be affected by pressure ulcers, but those with poor mobility who have to spend long periods of time in bed or seated in a chair are at greater risk of developing pressure sores.
Patients who are immobile whilst in hospital can develop pressure ulcers on pressure points, such as their sacrum (base of spine), or their heels which are under continuous pressure from the weight of their legs and feet when they are left in one position for a prolonged period of time.
The risk of developing a pressure ulcer is increased by:
Patients who are immobile or unable to turn themselves in bed, such as after surgery, must be nursed carefully to avoid tissue damage from pressure sores.
Most pressure sore compensation claims arise from failings in basic nursing care of patients who are at risk of developing pressure ulcers and bed sores.
Common mistakes which lead to pressure sore medical negligence compensation claims include:
Occasionally, despite a high level of nursing care, some patients will still develop pressure sores due to irreversible tissue hypoxia (lack of oxygen). However, in our experience, most of our clients developed pressure sores in situations where they could have been prevented with an acceptable standard of care.
In most cases, where the patient receives correct nursing care, pressure ulcers or bed sores can be prevented. The most important way to prevent pressure sores is to avoid prolonged periods of pressure on any one area of the skin by encouraging the patient to change their position regularly throughout the day. People who cannot reposition themselves should be moved at regular intervals, and at least every two hours for those lying down and every hour for those sitting upright. Pressure relieving mattresses should be provided, and skin should be kept healthy, clean, and dry. Regular inspection of high-risk areas is important to detect and treat early signs that a pressure ulcer is developing. The first sign that a pressure sore might be forming is usually a change in the colour of the skin.
Some pressure sores can be treated successfully by relieving the pressure on the affected parts of the body using equipment like a pressure-relieving overlay system mattress, and by cleaning the affected area regularly and applying an appropriate dressing. The wound should be kept clean and moist and the area around it clean and dry. As a pressure sore heals, it will slowly get smaller. Less fluid will drain from it and new healthy skin starts growing at the bottom of the sore. It is essential is that the sores do not become infected. For more severe pressure sores, surgical debridement may be necessary to remove necrotic (dead) or infected tissue from the wound. In very severe cases, skin grafts, cosmetic surgery or maggot therapy may be necessary.
The healing process can take a long time and often requires ongoing treatment by district nurses or tissue viability nurses, who specialise in treating persistent ulcers.
Serious pressure sores can be very painful and difficult to heal, as the wound has to heal from the inside out. Depending on the affected area, severe pressure sores leave the patient with unsightly scarring from the wound and its surgical treatment, and can cause permanent difficulty with walking or sitting, as the skin becomes tight and is vulnerable to breaking down.
Any delay or failure to recognise and treat pressure sores can lead to significant worsening of the ulcer as the necrotic tissue extends across a larger surface area and into the bone. This can lead to disability from amputations and life-threatening infection, such as cellulitis or sepsis.
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