Nursing Negligence Compensation Claims

Nursing Negligence Cases

No one likes having to go to hospital. When we do, however, it’s only right that we expect to be looked after with care and attention. And, in most cases, this is exactly what happens. But what if your nursing care falls below the standard you should reasonably expect? If this causes an injury or illness that could have been avoided, you could be able to make a nursing negligence claim.

Are you or a loved one suffering as a result of poor nursing care? If so, it’s essential to get professional advice from legal specialists with the skills and expertise to help. At Been Let Down, our team of medical negligence solicitors have vast experience of helping families in your position. And you can depend on us if you’ve been let down by the nursing care you’ve received.

What is negligence in nursing?

It’s perhaps no surprise that nursing is regularly listed as one of the most trusted professions in the UK. The care and compassion that nurses display can be a real comfort – not least when we fall ill or need hospital treatment.

At the very least, nurses have a legal and professional duty of care to us. And it’s fair to expect that nurses will uphold the high standards they sign up to. But this isn’t always what happens.

In some cases, the standard of care or treatment that you or a loved one receive could fall well below what it should be. From a genuine mistake to gross negligence, the impact can be devastating and even life-changing.

What are the different types of nursing negligence?

For some, it can come as a surprise when nursing care falls short of the expected standard. This means it isn’t always easy to be sure if you or a loved one did actually suffer as the direct result of patient negligence in nursing. But here are some examples of nursing negligence:

• Not reacting fast enough if you or a loved one’s condition starts to get worse
• Not assessing or monitoring your condition correctly
• Medication or treatment errors
• Not recording your patient information accurately, leading to unnecessary treatment etc.
• Using medical equipment incorrectly
• Not updating a Consultant or obtaining senior review on your condition
• Not carrying out a doctor’s instructions
• Injuring you while carrying out their duties
• Not monitoring a wound correctly or failing to ensure frequent changes of position

Ultimately, nursing negligence cases can involve any injury or illness that you or a loved one feel was caused by poor care or treatment. By speaking to one of our medical negligence specialists, we can review the details of your case and let you know if you have a valid claim for compensation.

To find out more, please call a member of our legal team on 0800 234 3234 or contact us today.

Do I have a nursing negligence claim?

To make a successful nursing negligence claim, a solicitor must show that you or someone close to you suffered an injury or illness as a direct result of poor care or treatment. We’ll also need to prove that poor care or treatment was more likely than not responsible for your suffering.

This is known as the balance of probabilities.

But you shouldn’t let this discourage you from contacting us. Our expert solicitors are here to help if you believe you’ve been let down by someone you put your trust in. And we can let you know if you have a potential claim for negligent nursing care.

Why should I make a nursing negligence claim?

In coming to terms with the impact of a serious or life-changing injury or illness, there can be so much to think about. We appreciate that a nursing negligence claim is likely to be one of the last things on your mind. But we also believe there are some good reasons to think about a claim.

First, it’s only right that anyone who experiences negligent nursing care should have their pain and suffering recognised. The impact it can have often lasts long after you leave the care of that professional and it can result in extra treatment and rehabilitation.

The cost of your future needs should not come out of your own pocket when you’ve suffered negligent nursing care. With our specialist legal knowledge and expertise, our team will do all we can to secure the compensation needed to help you and your family on the road to recovery.

How do I make a nursing negligence claim?

To start, all you need to do is get in touch. Call us today on 0800 234 3234 – or contact us for a member of our expert team to call you back. In your own words, and in confidence, you can take us through your experience of potentially negligent nursing care.

From the moment you approach our team for help, we’ll take control of your nursing negligence case – reviewing all the facts carefully. Our specialist solicitors are highly experienced when it comes to dealing with such cases so we understand the distress and trauma that can occur.

Once we collate all the information we need to build the strongest possible case, we’ll tell you how likely we think it is to succeed. We’ll also tell you if we can take it on a ‘No Win No Fee’ basis.

In addition, we recommend making a formal complaint to the relevant NHS Trust while your solicitor is reviewing your case. We can help you with this to ensure that we best protect your position. For anyone who suffers due to negligent nursing care, it is important to let the NHS Trust know the facts of the case. In doing so, future nursing negligence cases may be avoided and you may receive an early explanation of the Trust’s position.

Will my nursing negligence case go to court?

You’ll be kept updated at each stage of the claims process – so you always know what to expect. This includes whether or not your case will go to court. The chances are, however, that it won’t.

Most claims are settled out of court and data for the NHS in England backs that up. From a total of 15,550 medical negligence claims in 2019-20, fewer than 100 went to a full trial – and over 70% didn’t involve any formal proceedings.

If you do, our specialist solicitors will be with you every step of the way.

How long do I have to make a claim?

Like any medical negligence claim, time limits apply to most nursing negligence cases – so don’t delay. This limit is three years from when you suffered injury or illness as a result of negligent treatment. In some cases, the negligence might not be uncovered until a later date. If so, the three-year limit applies from when you first find out that you have suffered an injury. This is called the date of knowledge.

There are also exceptions to this rule, which we can tell you more about when you contact us.

Our expert medical negligence solicitors can discuss funding options with you further, but most of our cases are run on a ‘No Win No Fee’ basis. This is also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement, or CFA.

How much compensation could I receive?

From our experience, we find that no two nursing negligence cases are the same. Poor care or treatment can affect different people in different ways. That means each claim is unique to the individual involved. And so, there’s no simple answer that we can give to this question.

If you’re awarded nursing negligence compensation, the amount is based on how serious your injuries are, how long the impact will be felt into the future, and the costs you have incurred or will incur as a result. After all, this compensation is meant to help you and your family rebuild.

Why should I trust Been Let Down?

It’s important that you know there’s someone you can turn to when the worst happens. Our specialist medical negligence solicitors are highly skilled in helping people like you to rebuild after suffering from patient negligence in nursing.

Only a specialist solicitor with experience of handling nursing negligence cases can help you achieve the compensation you need. Such claims can often be complex and need a detailed understanding of the law. But we have built our reputation on doing just that for our clients.

You can also trust Been Let Down because:

• Authorised and regulated legal practice

We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA set the professional standards that solicitors need to adhere to in England and Wales.

• ‘No Win No Fee’

We believe that everyone has the right to make a claim – regardless of their income or personal status. That’s why we may be able to take your case on a No Win No Fee basis.

• Here for you

Your road to recovery doesn’t have to be a lonely one. Our legal expertise is where we excel – but we’ll also be there for you to help in any other way we can.

Contact us today 

Do you feel you have a claim for nursing negligence compensation? Are you unsure about how our team can help? For any answers you need or to start the process, please get in touch.

Please call 0800 234 3234 or contact us and someone will call you back.