Clinical Negligence News

15th May 2012
Teenage schoolgirl dies after doctors fail to diagnose tuberculosis
An inquest at the Birmingham Coroner's Court has heard that a 15-year-old schoolgirl died after doctors failed to diagnose and treat tuberculosis (TB).

3rd May 2012
Concern over GP prescription errors
Around one in 20 prescriptions written by GP's contain an error, a medical watchdog has warned.

30th April 2012
Doctors miss early signs of cancer in young people
Research suggests two thirds of young people with cancer visited their family doctor with at least one of the most common cancer symptoms – yet a third of these cases were misdiagnosed.

30th April 2012
Deaths during childbirth double in five years
According to recent research published in The Lancet, deaths during childbirth in London have doubled in the last five years - with London having twice the mortality rate as the rest of the UK.

4th April 2012
Health regulator faces criticism
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an independent regulator of all health and social care services in England. The CQC is a merger of three previous organisations and was set up in 2009.

3rd April 2012
MHRA advises surgeons to stop using hip implant with high failure rate
Advice from The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recommended surgeons stop using a particular type of metal-on-metal hip implant due to high failure rates.

2nd April 2012
Bacteria found in transplant organ fluid
Hundreds of organ transplant patients may be at risk after a bacteria was found in the solution used to preserve some organs.

14th March 2012
Care homes are struggling to meet the medical needs of the elderly
Research by the Royal College of Nursing suggests care homes in England are struggling to provide high quality care for residents with complex medical needs.

14th March 2012
Metal-on-metal hip replacements have high failure rates – Update
Metal-on-metal hip replacements have a much higher failure rate compared with devices made from other materials and should no longer be used, researchers have said after reviewing the world's largest database on hip replacements.

8th March 2012
Baby left fighting for his life after potentially fatal infection was missed by doctors
A baby was left fighting for his life after a small scald caused an infection to develop which was missed by doctors.

2nd March 2012
DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip replacements
Recommendations made by the health regulator MHRA mean that thousands of people with metal-on-metal hip replacements will need to undergo regular testing.

23rd February 2012
Diabetes patients not receiving vital tests
There are 2.9 million people in the UK living with diabetes, but many are missing out on vital and potentially life saving health checks according to figures released by the National Diabetes Audit for England.

9th February 2012
Injured fitter compensated after botched knee surgery
A Unite member who damaged his knee in a workplace accident and was then left even more seriously injured when private surgery funded by his employers went wrong has received a substantial sum in compensation.

1st February 2012
Ulcer drugs linked to hip fractures
Scientists have found a connection between ulcer drugs and hip fractures in women, particularly in those that smoke.

27th January 2012
PIP breast implant founder arrested
The founder of French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) faces charges of "involuntary injury" French prosecutors have said after the arrest of Jean-Claude Mas, 72, and a second executive from the now defunct company on the 26th of January.

20th January 2012
Pontefract Hospital A&E closure
Staff shortages have forced the closure of the A&E department at Pontefract Hospital from 22:00 to 08:00 each night.

19th January 2012
Depression drug increases the risk of falls in dementia patients
A drug used to treat depression in elderly patients suffering from dementia triples the risk of a fall.

19th January 2012
PIP breast implants – Update
Breast implants supplied by French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) caused global concern following reports they were made from substandard industrial grade silicone that was prone to leakages and ruptures.

17th January 2012
Calls for an increase in neurology disease services
Long-term, progressive conditions such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis affect more than 200,000 people in the UK, a figure which is expected to rise.

16th January 2012
Delays in processing dental complaints
The way in which the General Dental Council (GDC) regulates dental professionals within the UK has been called into question after it was revealed that of 1,400 complaints made to them in 2010, 72 complaints had still not been dealt with after nine months.

13th January 2012
Patient died after surgeon removed the wrong organ
A pensioner died on the operating theatre in a South Wales hospital after a surgeon tried to remove the wrong organ during a keyhole operation.

5th January 2012
Cleavage sparing mastectomies performed by Mr Paterson - Update
According to a statement released by the trust on the 7th of December, further recalls are being made to cancer survivors treated by Mr Paterson in the Midlands area.

3rd January 2012
Patients at risk when using injectable fillers in an unregulated market
There are 160 injectable fillers certified for sale in the UK which are used to smooth out wrinkles and plump lips and cheeks. In the UK they can be purchased and administered by anyone, as no medical training is generally required. In stark contrast there are only 6 injectable fillers certified in the US and in the US and they are classed as medicines by the Food and Drug Administration.

22nd December 2011
Defective breast implants linked to potential health risks
Up to 40,000 British women with defective implants have been warned about their safety, amid fears the implants carry potential health risks.

15th December 2011
Care of dementia patients under scrutiny
Currently around a quarter of all hospital beds are occupied by dementia sufferers, and by 2021 the Alzheimer's Society predicts patients suffering with dementia will increase to 1 million in the UK.

15th December 2011
Hospitals suffering due to large debts
Many hospitals are saddled with large financial debts, a Public Accounts Committee report has revealed. These debts raise the prospect of hospital mergers, cuts in services and in some cases hospital closures.

14th December 2011
Ambulance patients facing delays upon arrival at hospital
Patients arriving by ambulance are facing long delays before they are put in the care of hospital staff, data obtained by the BBC has revealed.

6th December 2011
Doctors remove patient’s stomach in error
A 74-year-old grandmother had her stomach removed when doctors wrongly diagnosed her with a life threatening tumour.

30th November 2011
A&E patient deaths increase at weekends
A report has revealed that patients admitted to hospital for emergency treatment at the weekend are 10% more likely to die compared with those admitted during the week.

30th November 2011
Patient dies from Legionnaires’ disease due to hospital failings
An inquest ruled that serious failings at Basildon Hospital to control Legionnaires' disease had led to the death of a patient in March last year.

25th November 2011
Breast cancer survivors warned about surgeon’s failures
Hundreds of cancer survivors in the Birmingham area are being advised to seek legal assistance after they were given a controversial "cleavage sparing" mastectomy.

21st November 2011
Furniture to help fight hospital bugs
A range of hospital furniture designed to help in the fight to prevent hospital infections has been trialled recently in Southampton General Hospital.

29th October 2011
NHS child care under scrutiny
The largest study into deaths of children after surgery at NHS hospitals has revealed that a quarter did not receive the best possible care.

28th October 2011
Hospital deaths probed at 36 NHS Hospitals
Department of Health statistics have revealed that 36 hospitals have higher than expected death rates for hospitals of their type.

26th October 2011
Out-of-hours clinic fail to spot meningitis symptoms
An out-of-hours health centre has launched a full investigation after a baby boy died from meningitis hours after he was sent home with Calpol.

18th October 2011
Family highlight impact of government legal reforms
The family of a six-year-old boy who lost a kidney after doctors failed to act quickly when he developed kidney stones have spoken of their relief that they have finally been compensated for his suffering.

13th October 2011
Hospitals failing on basic elderly care
A number of hospitals are failing to provide elderly patients with the most basic care, a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report has identified.

7th October 2011
Mum warns of risks of thread vein removal treatment
A mum of three who faces having skin grafts on her leg after a cosmetic procedure to remove thread veins went wrong is warning others about the possible side effects of the treatment.

7th October 2011
Anaesthetist destroyed a medical record to hide mistake
A Yorkshire cancer patient died after an anaesthetist made a mistake which he then tried to cover up.

30th September 2011
Dentist mistakenly extracts healthy tooth
A newly-qualified Somerset based dentist has been suspended following the extraction of a healthy tooth.

29th September 2011
Family compensated after grandmother dies of lithium exposure
The family of a woman who died after she was prescribed excessive levels of bipolar drug Lithium has received compensation from her GP practice.

23rd September 2011
Thompsons Solicitors celebrates 90 years fighting for justice for injured people
Thompsons Solicitors, the most experienced personal injury law firm in the UK, is celebrating 90 years since being established in September 1921.

22nd September 2011
Withdrawal of legal aid for clinical negligence claims
The government's plans to scrap legal aid for the victims of medical accidents is being challenged in the courts.

22nd September 2011
Concerns over GP waiting times
A study carried out by Aviva Health has analysed GP waiting times of more than 2,000 patients.

21st September 2011
Hip replacement patients are being recalled for urgent tests
Hospitals all over the country are recalling patients for urgent tests after it was discovered that the metal in the DePuy ASR hip replacement is damaging flesh and causing patients painful side effects.

19th September 2011
Thompsons Solicitors joins Limb Loss Legal Panel
Personal injury expert Thompsons Solicitors has announced it will be working in partnership with a national charity to provide legal advice to those who have suffered the loss of a limb.

12th September 2011
Man left with severely impaired sight after hospital missed brain tumour
A man who has been left almost blind after a hospital failed to diagnose a brain tumour has received £180,000 in compensation.

2nd September 2011
Hospital admits mistake after teenager left paralysed
A teenage girl has been left paralysed from the waist down, after a children's hospital made a devastating mistake.

25th August 2011
Healthcare acquired infection deaths fall
Figures released by the Office of National Statistics show healthcare acquired infections have fallen by a third.

23rd August 2011
Patient left disabled after surgeon mistakenly removed healthy brain tissue
A former paramedic from Sutton Coldfield has been left with a permanent brain injury after a surgeon at Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry made a tragic mistake.

18th August 2011
High reoperation rates for bowel surgery patients
Patients undergoing bowel operations could be five times more likely to need further emergency surgery depending on which hospital treats them, research published in the British Medical Journal suggests.

18th August 2011
Patient killed by contaminated equipment
A national review into anaesthetic procedures has been called for after a patient died from contaminated equipment.

15th August 2011
Number of NHS patients waiting more than four hours in A&E doubles
The number of patients waiting more than four hours in accident and emergency departments has almost doubled in the past year.

10th August 2011
North East NHS patients may suffer due to funding cuts
Government plans to move funding from the North East NHS to other areas of the country, could result in the North East losing out on £74 million.

9th August 2011
Rotherham General Hospital compensates five hip operation patients
Five hospital patients have settled claims totalling more than £750,000 after they suffered serious complications following hip surgery.

8th August 2011
Mum given wrong diagnosis for terminal cancer compensated by hospital
A mother of two who was told she had just months to live after she was wrongly diagnosed with a fatal type of cancer has received damages for the emotional trauma caused.

5th August 2011
Breast cancer survivors warned about surgeon’s failures
Clinical Negligence expert Thompsons Solicitors is acting on behalf of breast cancer survivors who are at risk of their cancer returning after they were given a controversial 'cleavage sparing' mastectomy.

4th August 2011
NHS Trusts are failing to meet targets for waiting lists
New data released today shows that many more NHS Trusts are failing to meet their targets for waiting lists. Patients are having to wait longer and longer for surgery that they need, sometimes desperately.

20th July 2011
Hospital pays compensation after misdiagnosing patient’s broken wrist
A North West Hospital trust has paid compensation to a man who was left to cope with a fractured wrist for a year after doctors said it was just sprained.

20th July 2011
Hospital failing to meet vital standards
Health bosses at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley have been ordered to make improvements after failing to meet vital standards.

12th July 2011
Sign language communicator’s hand damaged by botched operation
A sign language communicator whose hand was left permanently damaged by a routine operation has received a substantial sum in compensation.

21st June 2011
Hospital pays compensation to mum who had healthy fallopian tube removed
A mother who had a healthy fallopian tube removed when she suffered an ectopic pregnancy has received compensation from the hospital which treated her.

18th May 2011
Hospital settles after hairdresser suffers anaphylactic shock from latex allergy
A former hairdresser who almost died after she went into a latex induced anaphylactic shock in hospital has received compensation after help from Thompsons Solicitors.

25th March 2011
Thompsons support breast cancer survivor in case against surgeon
Clinical Negligence expert Thompsons Solicitors is acting on behalf of a breast cancer survivor whose cancer returned after she was given a controversial cleavage sparing mastectomy.

8th December 2010
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Settles Negligence Claim For Delayed Diagnosis
A hospital’s delay in diagnosing lung cancer that led to the death of a Leeds woman has finally resulted in an out of court settlement with her husband

10th August 2010
Southern Cross Healthcare admits liability for elderly woman’s bedsore agony
A grieving family whose dying elderly mother spent months in agony because of her care home’s neglect has welcomed Southern Cross Healthcare’s admission of liability.

26th July 2010
Medway NHS Trust pay compensation after leg amputation
A Rochester man has secured substantial damages from the Medway NHS Foundation Trust after part of his left leg had to be amputated following his admission to hospital with an infection in his little toe

20th July 2010
"Clerical Error" resulted in six years of illness
Our client, in this case was a 27 year old female who had suffered since childhood with abdominal pain. When no diagnosis was made she was given to understand that she had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

7th April 2010
Patient compensated for failed medical equipment
Thompsons Solicitors has secured more than £12,000 in compensation for a patient who was left in pain and discomfort when manufacturers provided him with defective medical equipment.

1st February 2010
Family wins compensation after hospital’s failures
A child who was starved of oxygen at birth today had a substantial sum in compensation approved by Manchester District Registry.

19th January 2010
Patient compensated for painful pressure sores
A patient who ended up with serious pressure sores after a routine hip operation has received £18,000.

21st December 2009
Cancer sufferer compensated for unnecessary organ removal
A cancer sufferer who had her bladder and reproductive organs removed unnecessarily has been awarded a six figure sum in a ground-breaking judgement which ruled she should have told about alternative treatments

24th November 2009
Family wins seven figure sum in compensation
Rhiannon Pridmore, aged seven, from Swansea, suffered severe brain damage during her birth at the city’s Singleton Hospital after the umbilical cord became trapped around her neck

3rd November 2009
£412,500 for patient infected with MRSA
The 62-year-old from Middlesex now has no left hip joint and has lost 3 and a half inches in height after he caught the infection while he was being treated by Charing Cross Hospital in London.

18th September 2009
Accrington cancer screening – comment by Thompsons Solicitors
Until 1988 breast cancer was the commonest cause of cancer deaths among women in the UK. It is now in second place, after lung cancer. However in women who die between 35 and 54 it remains the commonest fatal cancer

26th June 2009
Rugby dreams destroyed by A&E mistake
A promising county–level rugby player had to give up his sport after a hospital failed to spot his fractured wrist.

3rd June 2009
Family wins £3.8m compensation
A family cared for their desperately ill son for more than 10 years without realising they could receive millions of pounds in compensation

12th May 2009
Cataract operation left man blinded in right eye
A man who was blinded in one eye following routine surgery that went wrong has received a substantial sum in compensation after support from Thompsons Solicitors.

11th May 2009
£400,000 compensation for Antibiotic overdose
An assistant social worker was forced to give up the job she loved after she received a medication overdose while she was in hospital for a hip operation.

1st May 2009
Surgical pin left inside patient
A hospital which left surgical equipment inside a patient has paid an out of court settlement.

31st March 2009
Simple operation leads to granddad’s death
The family of a former miner who died after his spleen was ruptured during a routine operation has received £12,000 in compensation.

23rd March 2009
Failed sterilisation causes heartache for mum
A mother who became pregnant after undergoing a sterilisation operation is suing Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust after she was advised to abort her baby.

2nd January 2009
Car accident victim wins compensation
Lucy Borez, 58, from Victoria in London was involved in a horrific car accident in 2003 which left her with fractures in her left shoulder, right elbow and left hip.

24th December 2008
Compensation for substandard gall bladder operation
A mum who became critically ill after a minor operation went seriously wrong has received £44,000 in compensation after help from Thompsons Solicitors

6th November 2008
Young Mum Calls for Monitoring of Contraceptive Implant
A clerical assistant has called for stricter monitoring of women receiving the contraceptive implant after she fell pregnant following the procedure

10th September 2008
Ealing Primary Care Trust to pay damages to the family of a Southall woman who died as a result of the negligence of district nurses
With the support of leading personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors, Mrs Sangeeta Sohal, from Hayes, Middlesex, secured the compensation for her late mother Mrs Harveen Oberoi, from Southall

21st August 2008
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust to pay substantial compensation to nurse from Huntingdon after Breast Screening Service failed to detect her cancer
The compensation was secured with the support of leading personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors

8th February 2008
National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to make chemotherapy drug Alimta available on the NHS
Despite two appeals against its use, the NICE has given all trusts the go-ahead to prescribe the drug.

9th January 2008
Woman left paralysed by hospital failings secures £900,000 in compensation
A woman who suffered catastrophic injuries as the result of the negligent management and treatment of an infection in her spine has recovered £900,000 in compensation with the help of Thompsons Solicitors

26th November 2007
A step forward for life extending cancer drug, Alimta
The future of a life extending cancer drug took a step forward on Friday, November 23 during an appeal meeting by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE).

14th September 2007
Alimta Appeal
People across the UK affected by asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma are once again in limbo after two appeals have been lodged against a decision by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to make chemotherapy drug Alimta available on the NHS.

31st August 2007
Thompsons Solicitors to raise money for Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA)
Staff at Thompsons Solicitors in Newcastle are pulling on their hiking boots to raise money for a national charity

9th July 2007
NICE to make mesothelioma drug Alimta available on the NHS
People across the UK affected by asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma have welcomed a decision by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to make chemotherapy drug Alimta available on the NHS

19th February 2007
North East MP David Anderson is questioning the Department for Health over the future of mesothelioma drug Alimta
Mr Anderson, MP for Blaydon, has submitted a parliamentary question to the Government asking when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) will report back on approval of the chemotherapy treatment.

8th January 2007
Thompsons Solicitors is strengthening its Clinical Negligence department with the appointment of Gillian Muir
Her appointment comes just a few months after Thompsons announced plans nationally to strengthen its service to clients with clinical negligence claims.

8th January 2007
No faith in Trust as widower finally wins admission of liability for wife’s death after seven years
A widower who believed that his wife’s life could have been saved if the hospital had correctly diagnosed and treated her illness has finally won his battle for admission of liability, seven years later.

21st December 2006
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) has dismissed an appeal on mesothelioma drug Alimta
Nice released its decision on Alimta on Tuesday 19 December 2006, just a week after it said it would not announce its position on the drug until the New Year.

15th December 2006
Discharged Army soldier wins damages for surgical error
A former soldier who suffered a career-ending injury during surgery has been awarded £190,000 compensation for the injury, loss of earnings and earnings capacity, and loss of pension, after being discharged from the Army.

12th December 2006
Janet Allan from Thompsons Solicitors has been appointed to the Law Society's Clinical Negligence Panel
Thompsons Solicitors, has strengthened its clinical negligence team in the North East after partner Janet Allan was appointed to the Law Society clinical negligence panel.

7th December 2006
Mother of scarred baby says hospital chose wrong method of delivery
The mother of a baby who suffered lacerations to her head during birth is fighting to claim compensation for clinical negligence from Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester.

19th October 2006
Thompsons offers funding for clinical negligence claims
In a move to provide medical negligence claimants with easier access to justice, Thompsons Solicitors has introduced a new funding aspect to its Clinical Negligence Service.

17th October 2006
Asbestos victims and their families lobby Parliament for funding of Alimta for mesothelioma treatment
Asbestos victims and their families – including many GMB members – will lobby Parliament today for funding of the drug Alimta for the treatment of mesothelioma.

12th October 2006
MPs show support for continued access to life extending cancer drug
Members of Parliament from across the UK have shown support for a campaign by North East MP Fraser Kemp for continued access to a life-extending cancer drug for mesothelioma sufferers.

14th September 2006
Thompsons supports MRSA charity
As campaigners of MRSA Action UK prepare to lay floral tributes at Westminster Abbey this evening as a mark of respect for the victims of superbugs such as MRSA, leading claimant personal injury firm, Thompsons Solicitors, is lending its voice to the newly formed charity.

28th August 2006
Commons campaign for mesothelioma drug, Alimta
A campaign to gain access to a cancer drug for scores of mesothelioma sufferers in the UK has been taken to the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt.

23rd August 2006
Thompsons Solicitors and UNISON welcome NICE final guidance on Herceptin
Thompsons Solicitors and UNISON have today welcomed the decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) that eligible patients with early stage breast cancer will receive Herceptin on the NHS.

7th August 2006
Compensation from Nursing Home for Clinical Negligence
A woman from Colchester has secured compensation from a nursing home for clinical negligence, with the support of clinical negligence specialists Thompsons Solicitors.

1st August 2006
MRSA or methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
With MRSA cases on the increase, clinical negligence expert Kashmir Uppal of Thompsons Solicitors in Birmingham explains that claiming compensation is a challenge, but possible.

28th July 2006
Thompsons Solicitors Condemn Delay In Provision of Breast Cancer Drug Herceptin
UNISON and solicitors Thompsons have today condemned moves by an NHS Primary Care Trust which will severely delay thousands of women who are suffering from breast cancer from receiving the drug Herceptin.

20th July 2006
Research into drug to extend Mesothelioma sufferers’ lives funded by North East Research Fund
Important research into life extending cancer drug, Alimta could deliver its first results within the next two years.

12th June 2006
Thompsons and Trade Union campaign for Herceptin
Thompsons Solicitors has welcomed the new guidelines published this week about the Breast Cancer Drug, Herceptin.

7th June 2006
Thompsons call for life-extending medicine to be available for mesothelioma victims
Thompsons Solicitors, has welcomed news that drug manufacturer Eli Lilly is appealing against the withdrawal from use in the NHS of life extending cancer medicine, Alimta.

24th May 2006
Summer 2006 - secondary regulations of the NHS Redress Bill to be drafted
In the autumn of 2005 the government introduced the NHS Redress Bill.  This is an outline bill and most of the detail of how the system would work is reserved to secondary regulations which were planned for drafting in the summer of 2006.

22nd May 2006
Mother's three year battle for apology for son's death
A mother who believes her son died as a result of clinical negligence continues with her three year battle for an apology from the NHS Trust.

12th April 2006
Thompsons and UNISON Welcomes Herceptin Ruling
UNISON, the UK's largest union, and their law firm Thompsons, today welcomed the ruling in the Court of Appeal that Swindon NHS PCT must provide breast cancer sufferer, Ann Marie Rogers with potentially life-saving drug Herceptin.

13th February 2006
Patient at Princess Royal Hospital, Hull secures £200,000 compensation for clinical negligence
A local mother of two has been awarded £200,000 compensation for a mistake made at Princess Royal Hospital, Hull, during a routine ovarian cyst operation, which led to the patient requiring a colostomy for life. The compensation was secured with the help of leading clinical negligence firm Thompsons Solicitors.

19th December 2005
Asbestos cancer drug postcode lottery victory
Victory for North East patients suffering from mesothelioma has been achieved, following a decision by the region’s Cancer Network to make a licensed chemotherapy drug called Alimta available on the NHS.

19th December 2005
Bristol breast cancer patient threatens court action to get Herceptin drug
Many women who are suffering from breast cancer in Bristol are anxiously awaiting the outcome of a meeting within North Bristol Primary Care Trust. The meeting, which is to be held on 21st December, has been called specifically to decide whether they will receive the life saving drug Herceptin.

28th November 2005
Clinical negligence victim wins damages
A woman who had a kidney removed as a result of a mis-diagnosis at Stafford General Hospital, has been awarded £33,650 in damages through legal representation from clinical negligence solicitors, Thompsons.

12th September 2005
Addressing the nation’s health – postcode lottery continues in the North East
Further cases are emerging of what is being described as the postcode health lottery, where patients in certain parts of the country are not receiving the newest and best treatments because guidance on what should be available is not being implemented.

8th February 2005
Lawyers' warning on uninsured cosmetic surgeons
Having cosmetic surgery without ensuring the surgeon has a valid insurance certificate could make it impossible to sue if things go wrong, leading clinical negligence law firm Thompsons has warned.

2nd April 2003
Widow demands enquiry into Chesterfield hospital failures
A woman whose husband died after Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital Trust failed to spot a massive blood clot on his brain is demanding an investigation into the hospital's procedures.