A nursing negligence claim gets you the compensation you deserve for poor medical treatment. If you or a loved one suffers due to nursing negligence, you make a medical negligence claim for the harm caused.
You can experience nursing negligence in any medical setting. It could be a nursing home, a hospital or even the GP’s clinic, but your nursing negligence claim is still valid. Wherever it happens, if you suffer negligence by a nurse, you can start a compensation claim.
A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will take your nursing negligence claim to get you compensation for the suffering.
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What is a nursing negligence claim?
A nursing negligence claim is when you file a case against the nurse responsible for doing you harm. It is the legal action you take to get compensation for the lack of professional care when treating you.
Medical negligence is when you experience medical treatment below acceptable standards. It is medical care so poor that no other medical professional would provide such a low standard of care.
When you experience nursing negligence, you can take a compensation claim against those responsible. You can file a medical negligence claim if you suffered stress, ill health or injury due to nursing negligence.
A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor fights your claim to discover what happened when you experienced nursing negligence.
How can nursing negligence happen?
Nursing negligence can happen when a nurse does not do their job properly, and the patient suffers. The illness and suffering may last for days or years, but if you suffered nursing negligence, you should claim compensation.
Nursing negligence happens, for example, when they give you the wrong medication or the wrong dose of a medication. If the nurse does not do their professional duty, the patient suffers. When you are the patient, you claim compensation for the nursing negligence.
Nursing negligence can happen when you or your loved ones are most vulnerable. A look at some common nursing negligence claims shows how often this form of medical negligence happens and the damage it causes.
Common nursing negligence claims
Common nursing negligence claims, such as medication errors or misusing needles, happen daily. Claims for nursing negligence come from the poor professional care by the nurses at the hospital or clinic
You trust your medical professional, especially a nurse, to look after you properly.
It can be hard to believe when their lack of care damages your health. Nursing negligence does happen, though, and it happens a lot.
Common nursing negligence claims are:
If a nurse does their job properly, negligence will not happen; when they don’t behave professionally, is when errors occur. The results can be devastating.
Giving the wrong medication
Giving the wrong medication to a patient happens in a nursing home or hospital. The busy nurse doesn’t look at the container and gives you someone else’s medication.
Giving the wrong medication can have serious consequences. You could be allergic to the one given in error and have a reaction.
On the other hand, if you don’t get the medication you need, it has implications for your health and is especially true of neurological medicines.
Giving the wrong dose of a medication
Giving the wrong dose of a medication can cause serious illness. You could experience an overdose or develop side effects such as nausea or pain.
When the doctor prescribes a medication, they decide on the dose correct for your condition. Getting the wrong dose can impact your recovery and, in some cases, do more harm than good.
Infection from poor hygiene
Infection from poor hygiene practices is common in shared spaces. If you are already ill, another infection may make you a lot worse, and good nurse hygiene is vital when treating patients.
The nurse who does not wash their hands between patients spreads infection from one person to the next. Not wearing PPE or forgetting to change gloves can quickly spread infection through a ward.
Moving a patient incorrectly
Moving a patient incorrectly, such as when changing beds or getting them up for the day, will do a lot of damage. Nurses are trained to move patients, and to do so incorrectly is nursing negligence.
Broken bones, pulled muscles and cuts or bruises are the signs of not moving a patient correctly.
Failing to spot the signs of bed sores
Failing to spot the signs of bed sores only makes them worse. Bed sores happen from not moving a patient regularly, and early detection is the best cure.
In nursing homes, bed sores are a constant threat to patients. Nurses must be aware of the signs; failing to spot them and put into place an appropriate management plan can result in a successful medical negligence claim.
Forgetting to administer medication
Forgetting to administer medication should never happen, but it does, and the patient always suffers. Nurses should follow strict protocols and ensure every patient gets their medication and on time.
A missed dose can have serious effects on a patient and, if it happens regularly, can halt recovery.
Not alerting a doctor to medical problems
Not alerting a doctor to medical problems, such as changes in blood pressure, will impact the patient’s health and accurate diagnosis.
Correct observation and reporting any changes help a doctor to treat patients. To not monitor a patient properly nor report problems to the doctor is serious nursing negligence.
Damage from medical equipment
Damage from medical equipment, like misusing a syringe causing a vein to collapse, is nursing negligence. The incorrect use of medical equipment, such as taking wrong blood pressure readings, also happens and can do a lot of harm.
Nurses are trained in using medical equipment; not using it correctly that harms patients and is medical negligence.
Failing to record test results
Failing to record test results such as blood sugar levels can lead to misdiagnosis or missed problems in a patient’s treatment. Doctors need all information to hand, and gaps in records are inexcusable.
Nursing negligence directly impacts a patient. By failing to record test results, the nurse slows or prevents the correct treatment of your condition.
Not following instructions
Not following instructions from a doctor or other medical staff is serious nursing negligence. Giving an antibiotic after surgery or altering the drip rate are standard instructions often not followed by nursing staff on duty.
The doctor relies on the nurse to follow instructions for treating the patient correctly. To not do so is nursing negligence.
Nursing negligence can happen in many ways, but you can take a compensation claim against those responsible.
Who is responsible for nursing negligence?
A nurse is responsible for nursing negligence. The nurse is the one who does not perform their professional duty and, in the process, does you harm.
Medical negligence is when a medical professional does their job at a standard below which no other medical professional would do the same work.
A nurse doing their job below their professional standards is guilty of nursing negligence. The nursing negligence can happen anywhere a nurse is working.
Nursing negligence can happen with:
When a nurse breaches the nursing standard of care, you can claim compensation by contacting a No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor.
The nursing standard of care
The nursing standard of care outlines every nurse’s obligations to their patient while performing their duties. Every nurse must work at acceptable standards and has both a professional and legal duty to look after patients under their care.
A nurse must provide a standard of care that:
When a nurse does not provide those high standards of nursing care, negligence happens. Poor care leads to poor outcomes for a patient.
When the poor outcome leads to damage to your health, you can claim nursing negligence compensation.
How much can I claim for nursing negligence?
You can claim amounts in the low £1,000s to more than £1m for nursing negligence compensation. The amount you claim depends on the damage caused to you, and there is not one fixed award in any medical negligence claim.
The amount of compensation differs from patient to patient, depending on the circumstances and effects of the nursing negligence.
When claiming nursing negligence, you are looking for compensation for what happened at the hands of a medical professional. The negligent treatment caused temporary or permanent injury, and you deserve compensation for the suffering.
As in all medical negligence claims, each nursing negligence case is dealt with on its merits and how much you suffered.
A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will be the only one to advise you on a nursing negligence claim. They will know from experience what your case may be worth and how to go about a successful claim.
Your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will handle your nursing negligence claim and get you compensation for all damages incurred.
What can you claim for when you sue for nursing negligence?
You can claim compensation for any damages that occurred when you sue for nursing negligence.
There are two types of compensation damages due when suing for any type of medical negligence: General damages and Special damages.
General damages
General damages are when you sue for the pain, suffering and the loss of amenity, PSLA, you have experienced due to negligence.
Special damages
Special damages include loss of earnings, future care costs, and out-of-pocket expenses.
Be sure to keep payslips, receipts and proof of any losses you experience as a result of the medical negligence.
You deserve compensation to cover all losses, including loss of life, medical costs and any long-term care needs.
You make a compensation claim when you or a loved one suffers from the effects of nursing negligence.
Your No Win No Fee solicitor will guide you through the steps in making a nursing negligence claim.
What are the steps involved in making a nursing negligence claim?
The steps involved in making a nursing negligence claim go from seeking medical advice to issuing court proceedings.
The steps are a part of any successful compensation case, and settlement can happen at any stage in the process.
Your medical negligence solicitor will do the rest when you follow the steps correctly and get all the facts and figures together.
Step 1: Seek medical advice
Seek medical advice on the injuries you have suffered or are suffering with immediately you realise you experienced nursing negligence.
Step 2: Contact a specialist medical negligence solicitor
Contact a specialist medical negligence solicitor who operates on a No Win No Fee basis and tell them what went wrong. The right solicitor will look at your case, see where the problem lies, and advise if you have a nursing negligence claim.
The Medical Negligence Team also have a 100% Compensation Guarantee scheme, where you get all the money awarded in a negligence claim.
You are the one who suffered medical negligence, and you should get all the money due for the suffering.
Step 3: Your medical negligence solicitor obtains your medical records
Your medical negligence solicitor obtains your medical records with your permission. By reading your records, they will confirm if they think you have a valid nursing negligence claim.
The medical negligence team will know from your medical records if the case will result in compensation being paid.
Step 4: The medical negligence solicitor sending a letter of claim to the negligent party
The medical negligence solicitor sending a letter of claim to the negligent party is the next step. The letter will ask them to admit the nursing negligence in what is known as ‘sending a letter of claim.’
When the negligent party receives the letter of claim, it has up to four months to provide a written response.
Step 5: Getting a response from the negligent party’s insurer
Getting a response from the negligent party’s insurer will move your compensation claim closer to a conclusion.
The insurer will either admit the medical negligence or say they intend to defend the case. Deciding to defend the case is known as ‘deny liability’ in legal terms.
If they admit liability, your nursing negligence claim can be valued, and the two parties will meet to decide on your compensation payment.
Your solicitor will negotiate with the negligent party and use their experience to get the compensation you deserve.
Step 6: Issuing court proceedings
Issuing court proceedings is the next step if they deny liability in your nursing negligence claim.
Going to court happens, too, when they are not prepared to pay a fair amount for the injuries you have suffered. Your medical negligence solicitor issues the court proceedings.
Remember that less than 1% of medical negligence cases end up in court, and very few of those cases ever make it to the courtroom.
No Win No Fee Medical Negligence solicitor
Using a No Win No Fee solicitor is the only way to a successful nursing negligence compensation claim. Your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will not charge you for a claim you do not win.
Always have a fee agreement in place before engaging a medical negligence solicitor. If they start talking of a ‘win fee’ or a ‘success fee,’ you should walk away. The negligent party insurers should pay all fees.
The medical negligence solicitor should also operate a 100% Compensation Guarantee scheme. When you win the case, all the money awarded should go to you, not the solicitor.
You are the one who suffered nursing negligence, and you deserve the compensation to get your life back to normal.
How long do I have to make a claim for nursing negligence?
You have three years to make a claim for nursing negligence. All medical negligence claims are subject to limitation periods.
For example, in England and Wales, medical negligence claims must generally be brought and court proceedings issued within three years of the injury, or three years of knowledge of the facts giving rise to the claim.
If someone has passed away, it is the date of death if the limitation period has not expired at the date of death.
Children not under a disability typically have until they reach 21 to start a nursing negligence claim or court proceedings.
Persons under a disability, who lack capacity, are not subject to any limitation period.
Can I make a medical negligence claim against the NHS?
Yes, you can make a medical negligence claim against the NHS. Suing the NHS for negligence is not unusual. People sue the NHS for compensation for nursing negligence and receive the money they deserve for the poor treatment.
Each year there are between 8,000 and 10,000 successful medical negligence claims against the NHS. Amounts in compensation claims awarded against the NHS range from £1000 to over £10 million.
The amount of compensation you receive covers minor injuries such as scarring to serious life-threatening negligence, which leaves you with long-term care needs.
We trust in and use the NHS daily and do not expect negligence. It happens, though, and the NHS has a dedicated team to handle medical negligence compensation claims, called NHS resolution.
NHS Resolution has a responsibility to treat patients who seek compensation fairly. Patients pay for the NHS through their taxes, and for that they deserve respect and the best medical treatment.
Contact The Medical Negligence Team
Contact the Medical Negligence Team today to discuss your nursing negligence claim for compensation. We have both the legal and medical experts to guide you along the steps to a successful medical negligence claim for compensation.
At the Medical Negligence Team, we fight every compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis. You will not be out of pocket for an unsuccessful claim.
We have a very high success rate and a reputation for a speedy and successful resolution to all medical negligence cases.
Our 100% Compensation Guarantee puts all the money you win into your pocket. You or your loved one suffered from nursing negligence, and you deserve every penny of the compensation claim.
Contact us at the Medical Negligence Team for all your medical negligence needs.
