Clinical negligence blogs
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Guidance for patients, families and professionals on clinical evidence, legal claims, compensation and the investigation process.
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Articles on clinical negligence,
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Birth Injury Claims: What Families Need To Know After Avoidable Harm During Pregnancy, Labour Or Neonatal Care
The birth of a baby should be a time of safety, reassurance and careful clinical support. Most maternity care in the United Kingdom is delivered safely and compassionately, often in difficult circumstances. However, when
Read blog →02 · BlogAmputation Compensation Claims: What Can Be Claimed After Losing a Limb Due to Medical Negligence?
An amputation is a life-changing injury. Whether it involves the loss of a toe, foot, leg, finger, hand, arm or multiple limbs, the consequences can be profound. Limb loss affects mobility, independence, work, family lif
Read blog →03 · BlogSepsis, Infection and Amputation Claims: When Delayed Treatment Causes Limb Loss
The loss of a limb following infection or sepsis is devastating. For many patients and families, the speed of deterioration can be frightening. A person may begin with what appears to be a relatively minor wound, ulcer,
Read blog →04 · BlogDiabetic Foot Amputation Negligence: What Patients and Families Need to Know
Diabetic foot problems can become serious very quickly. A small blister, cut, ulcer or area of redness may not look alarming at first, but in a person with diabetes it can develop into infection, tissue breakdown, poor h
Read blog →05 · BlogDelayed Diagnosis and Amputation Claims: When Could Limb Loss Have Been Avoided?
The loss of a limb is one of the most life-changing injuries a person can suffer. An amputation affects mobility, independence, work, family life, relationships, self-confidence, mental health and almost every practical
Read blog →06 · BlogLiving with the Consequences of Missed Cauda Equina Syndrome
The Human Impact of Medical Negligence While much of the discussion around Cauda Equina Syndrome focuses on diagnosis and treatment, it is equally important to consider the long-term reality for those affected. For many
Read blog →07 · BlogDelayed Diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome: A Preventable Medical Tragedy
When Time is Everything in Spinal Emergencies In the context of Cauda Equina Syndrome, time is not simply important—it is decisive. The progression from reversible nerve compression to permanent neurological damage can o
Read blog →08 · BlogCauda Equina Negligence: Recognising the Red Flags Doctors Must Not Miss
Why Early Recognition of Cauda Equina Syndrome is Critical Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) occupies a unique position in clinical negligence law. Unlike many conditions where diagnosis can be complex or symptoms ambiguous, C
Read blog →09 · BlogMissed Cauda Equina Syndrome Diagnosis Claims
Understanding Cauda Equina Syndrome and Why Early Diagnosis Matters Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is widely recognised within the medical and legal professions as one of the most urgent spinal emergencies. Although relativ
Read blog →10 · BlogHigh Court Clarifies Scope of Summary Judgment in Psychiatric Injury Claims Brought by Midwives
Prudence v Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] EWHC 96 (KB) The High Court has handed down a significant decision in Prudence v Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] EWHC 96 (KB), refini
Read blog →11 · BlogLoss of Earnings in Clinical Negligence Claims
Loss of earnings is an important and often significant element of compensation in clinical negligence claims. Where negligent medical treatment causes injury, it can affect a person’s ability to work, either temporarily
Read blog →12 · BlogTime Limits for Clinical Negligence Claims Explained
Time limits are a critical feature of clinical negligence claims. Even where there is clear evidence that treatment fell below an acceptable standard and caused serious harm, a claim may fail if it is brought too late. U
Read blog →13 · BlogInquests Following a Death in Medical Settings: What Families Should Know
An inquest is a formal investigation into the circumstances of a person’s death. In cases where a death occurs in medical settings, or where there are concerns about the care provided before death, an inquest can play an
Read blog →14 · BlogPain, Suffering and Loss of Amenities in Clinical Negligence Claims
Pain, suffering and loss of amenity, commonly referred to as PSLA, forms a central part of compensation in clinical negligence claims. While financial losses such as care costs or loss of earnings can often be calculated
Read blog →15 · BlogThe essential criteria for a successful clinical negligence claim
Clinical negligence claims can appear complex, particularly for individuals who have not previously engaged with the legal system. This simple blog is intended to explain, in clear and accessible terms, the legal criteri
Read blog →16 · BlogSepsis and Clinical Negligence: When a Deteriorating Patient Is Not Identified in Time
Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires urgent recognition and treatment. When it is missed or not acted upon promptly, the consequences can be devastating. Despite clear national guidance and increasing awareness, f
Read blog →17 · BlogUnderstanding Clinical Negligence Claims and Your Legal Options
Every day patients place their trust in medical professionals to safeguard their health and wellbeing. When treatment goes wrong because of avoidable errors, delayed diagnoses or failures in care, the consequences can be
Read blog →18 · BlogFalls involving inadequate physiotherapy and mobility assessment
Falls involving elderly residents in care homes and nursing facilities are rarely random events. In my experience as a specialist clinical negligence solicitor, many serious falls occur because mobility has not been prop
Read blog →19 · BlogFalls risk assessments in care homes – what a proper care plan should include and how risks should be mitigated
When an elderly resident in a care home or nursing facility is assessed as being at risk of falling, that assessment is only the beginning of the provider’s responsibility. In my experience as a specialist clinical negli
Read blog →20 · BlogFalls after an initial warning fall – when failure to reassess becomes clinical negligence
Falls are one of the most common adverse incidents involving elderly patients in hospital wards, rehabilitation units and care homes. What is far less well understood by patients and families, and sometimes underestimate
Read blog →21 · BlogFalls in the elderly and the hidden dangers of bed cot sides (bed rails)
Falls remain one of the most common and devastating causes of injury in older people. As a falls expert and clinical negligence solicitor who has spent many years dealing with catastrophic injury claims arising from fall
Read blog →22 · BlogElderly Fall Negligence Claims in Hospitals and Care Homes
Understanding Elderly Fall Negligence Claims Elderly fall negligence claims arise when an older person suffers injury after falling in a hospital, nursing home, or care home where reasonable preventative measures were no
Read blog →23 · BlogHow Much Compensation Can You Get for Clinical Negligence?
A frequent concern for individuals considering a clinical negligence claim is the level of compensation that may be available. This question often arises before there is certainty as to whether negligent treatment occurr
Read blog →24 · BlogCan Families Claim After a Death Caused by Medical Negligence?
The death of a family member following medical treatment is devastating. When concerns arise that the death may have been avoidable, families are often left seeking answers while also trying to understand whether any leg
Read blog →25 · BlogDo I Have a Clinical Negligence Claim Against the NHS?
Patients are entitled to expect that treatment provided by the NHS will meet an appropriate standard. When something goes wrong, it is not always immediately clear whether the outcome was unavoidable or whether it result
Read blog →26 · BlogGestational Diabetes and the Risk of Birth Injury to the Baby
Gestational diabetes is a condition that can have profound consequences for the developing baby if it is not identified, monitored and managed appropriately during pregnancy. While many women with gestational diabetes go
Read blog →27 · BlogHypoxic Birth Injuries and Failures in Maternity Care
Hypoxic birth injuries occur when a baby is deprived of adequate oxygen before, during or shortly after birth. Oxygen deprivation can cause serious and sometimes permanent injury to the brain and other organs. In the mos
Read blog →28 · BlogCan I Claim on Behalf of a Child for Medical Negligence?
Where a child has suffered injury as a result of negligent medical treatment, parents and carers are often faced with uncertainty about whether legal action can be taken and how such a claim would operate in practice. Cl
Read blog →29 · BlogA Preventable Death and Patient Safety Failures in the Case of Joanne Price
The death of Joanne Price following a missed subarachnoid haemorrhage raises stark and troubling issues about patient safety, adherence to national clinical guidelines, and accountability within emergency medical service
Read blog →30 · BlogFailure to Admit or Refer Patients From A&E
A key function of accident and emergency departments is to identify patients who require admission to hospital or referral to specialist services. Decisions about whether to admit, observe, or discharge a patient carry s
Read blog →31 · BlogFailure to Act on Abnormal Observations or Test Results in A&E
Accident and emergency departments routinely record a large volume of clinical information in a short period of time. Vital signs, blood tests, imaging and other investigations are central to assessing how unwell a patie
Read blog →32 · BlogMissed Medical Diagnoses Explained: What Patients and Families Need to Know
When a health condition is not identified at the point it should have been, the results can be serious. Patients may face delays in treatment, receive inappropriate medication, or develop permanent complications. Familie
Read blog →33 · BlogIron extravasation and iron staining claims: getting the right legal advice
Intravenous iron therapy is an effective treatment for iron‑deficiency anaemia when oral supplements are unsuitable or poorly tolerated. Iron injections and infusions are routinely used during pregnancy, after childbirth
Read blog →34 · BlogThe Role of Duty of Care in Clinical Negligence: What It Means for NHS Patients
If something went wrong during your NHS treatment, you may have heard the phrase “duty of care.” But what does it actually mean, and how does it connect to clinical negligence? Duty of care is the foundation of every neg
Read blog →35 · BlogHow to Request Your NHS Medical Records: A Step by Step Guide
If you are worried about the care you received from the NHS and are considering whether clinical negligence may have occurred, obtaining your medical records is an important first step. These records set out what treatme
Read blog →36 · BlogGP Negligence – When Serious Illness Is Missed or Misdiagnosed
General practitioners (GPs) are often the first point of contact for patients with health concerns. They play a vital role in diagnosing illness, prescribing medication and referring patients to hospital when specialist
Read blog →37 · BlogInformed Consent in Medical Treatment: Understanding Your Rights
When a patient agrees to medical treatment or surgery, it is not enough for a doctor simply to ask for a signature on a consent form. The patient must first be given enough information to make a real choice about whether
Read blog →38 · BlogDrug Errors and Medical Negligence: Understanding Your Rights
Introduction Medication is a cornerstone of modern healthcare. Whether prescribed in hospital or dispensed by a pharmacist, patients rightly expect to receive the correct drug, in the right dose, at the right time. Yet e
Read blog →39 · BlogThe Duty of Candour: Your Right to Honesty When Things Go Wrong
Introduction When patients enter hospital or undergo medical treatment, they are entitled to expect safe care, delivered to the highest professional standards. Yet healthcare, by its nature, carries risks. Mistakes and c
Read blog →40 · BlogHospital‑acquired infections: understanding your rights
Introduction Hospital‑acquired infections, sometimes called healthcare‑associated infections, are those contracted while receiving treatment in hospital. Patients expect hospitals to be places of recovery, yet poor hygie
Read blog →41 · BlogSurgical Never Events: understanding avoidable surgical mistakes
Introduction In the UK, the term “never event” refers to a serious patient‑safety incident that should simply not happen. These mistakes are considered wholly preventable because national guidance and safety recommendati
Read blog →42 · BlogMissed Cancer Diagnoses and Medical Negligence
General practitioners are often the first port of call when patients experience concerning symptoms. Their role is pivotal in recognising early warning signs and deciding when urgent referral to specialist care is necess
Read blog →43 · BlogNegligence in Nursing and Care Homes: Protecting Residents’ Rights
When we entrust a loved one to a nursing or care home, we expect safe, dignified and compassionate care. Sadly, failures in staffing, training and oversight can lead to serious harm. As a solicitor with extensive experie
Read blog →44 · BlogSepsis – A Silent Killer and the Importance of Early Recognition
As a solicitor specialising in medical negligence, I regularly encounter cases where sepsis has not been recognised or treated promptly, leading to catastrophic outcomes. Understanding what sepsis is, how it develops, an
Read blog →45 · BlogPressure Sore Injuries and Negligence Claims Explained
Specialist legal advice for avoidable pressure ulcers, bed sores and pressure injuries Pressure sores, also known as pressure ulcers, pressure injuries or bed sores, can cause serious pain, infection, loss of mobility an
Read blog →46 · BlogDelayed or Missed Breast Cancer Diagnosis – How I Can Help
If you or someone close to you has suffered harm because of a delayed or missed breast cancer diagnosis, Scott and his team can consider whether there is a basis to investigate a claim. As a solicitor specialising in medical negligence, I support people
Read blog →47 · BlogFailure to Escalate Patients in Hospital – How and Why It Happens - the Role of the NEWS Score
Hospital wards are complex, fast-paced environments where the early recognition of a patient’s deterioration can be the difference between recovery and a serious, sometimes fatal, outcome. One of the most widely used too
Read blog →48 · BlogCase Study: Iron extravasation injury - a legal perspective
Iron‑deficiency anaemia is a common condition where the body lacks enough iron to make haemoglobin. For patients who cannot tolerate oral supplements, intravenous iron therapy is often used. In the case described here, a
Read blog →49 · BlogSuspect Medical Negligence? Here's What to Do
If you've been injured or your health has been made worse after receiving medical care, it can leave you feeling confused, let down, and unsure of what to do next. You may be wondering whether what happened to you was si
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