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Pressure Sore Claims

More About Pressure Sores Claims

If you or a loved one have suffered from pressure sores as a result of medical negligence, our pressure sore compensation claims solicitors can provide you with legal representation and support. Our experienced pressure sore solicitors can help you to pursue a claim for compensation and hold medical professionals accountable for their errors.

What is a Pressure Sore?

What is a Pressure Sore?

A pressure sore is a type of injury that occurs when prolonged pressure is applied to a particular area of the skin, which results in the breakdown of skin and underlying tissues. Pressure sores can be painful and can take a long time to heal.

What is a Pressure Sore Compensation Claim?

What is a Pressure Sore Compensation Claim?

A pressure sore compensation claim is a legal claim for compensation made by someone who has suffered harm as a result of a pressure sore. This can include medical expenses, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering.

Pressure sores can be extremely painful and can develop surprisingly quickly. They often develop on the sacrum and heels. Anyone who spends any length of time in one position can be susceptible to developing them. This applies particularly to anyone with a serious injury requiring a prolonged stay in hospital with a restricted ability to move or in a state of unconsciousness.

Hospitals and care homes must carry out regular assessments to plan and prevent pressure sores. It should be a fundamental part of their training. Risk assessment tools are used to assess a patient risk. A common tool is known as the Waterlow score test, which uses a points system to score various factors such as sex, age, weight, skin type, mobility etc. A high score means a patient is at risk. They will require regular repositioning which could be as frequently as 1-2 hourly in an intense case reducing to 3-4 hourly in patients with some mobility and able to understand the need for frequent self-repositioning or ability to move themselves. Pressure relieving support surfaces such as beds, mattresses, overlays or cushions should be provided.

If pressure sores develop, they are graded. Grade 1 is the lowest, which usually requires a high specification foam mattress or cushion with close observation of any skin changes. Grades 3-4 will often require an alternating pressure mattress or sophisticated continuous low pressure system.

The development of pressure ulcers and their management should be recorded in the notes. They need to be reviewed regularly to ensure they are managed.

Failure to assess, monitor and reposition causing sores to develop would generally be considered negligent and below the standard expected of a hospital or care home. Put simply, pressure sores should not develop at all but in the rarest and unforeseen circumstances.

They can be extremely painful requiring a significant amount of treatment and a prolonged recovery.

If you, a friend or a loved one develops pressure sores, you may be able to claim for clinical or medical negligence.

Here at Forbes we act on a no win no fee basis and can assist you with claiming compensation for the pain and suffering caused.

Pressure Sore Claims Case Studies

Pressure Sore Claims Case Studies

  • Care Home Company admitted full liability following allegations that despite continual advice from District Nurses and Podiatry Staff to keep the Claimant's dressings dry whilst attending to hygiene needs, they repeatedly failed to use seal tight boots when showering the claimant, as a result saturating the pressure sore dressings, leading to deterioration of the wound sites, serious infections and amputation of the lower leg. The amputation surgery had a profound impact on the Claimant and unfortunately, the claimant never recovered from the operation and later died. Family received £35,000 in compensation.

  • Claim against Preston hospital for grade 2 and 3 bedsores on an elderly patient, duration roughly 3 months, damages £30,000.

I would like to say how eternally grateful I am for the service that Lisa has given us through this devastating time of losing my mum.

Lisa has been completely honest and upfront from the start with what to expect, and "held our hand" all the way

Whenever I needed to contact Lisa she would either answer straight away or get back to me very quickly. I do believe that Lisa is a credit to Forbes and would highly recommend her

Elaine Edwards

Forbes have been our legal team for the past 6 years and John Bennett has been the solicitor for our case. The amount of work and dedication carried out from John has been immense. We have settled this case knowing my child will be set for life and have everything we will ever need. I feel very lucky to have found a solicitor so passionate about what he does. There isn’t anything in this world we could thank John with but, from the bottom of our hearts. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Anonymous

Leonie was Very thorough and guided me through all the process from start to finish. Nothing was to much trouble. We won the case and hopefully because of her hard work and dedication we will see some improvements within the NHS

Michelle Moss

John Bennett at Forbes has been patient, supportive and understanding. From the outset I felt that my case was in safe hands. Throughout the process I have found that John is happy to explain terminology and procedures so that I have felt reassured and comfortable.

Anonymous

I dealt with Lisa Atkinson from the Blackburn branch. Lisa was always open and honest with regards to what we could expect from the case. Always quick to respond to any query we had, updated us along the way and was always professional. I found her to be very thorough in all dealings that we had with her, and would not hesitate to use again. Thank you

Lisa Bromilow

Recognition of our work

Our dedicated Clinical Negligence team

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Partner, Personal Injury

John Bennett

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Partner, Clinical Negligence

Leonie Millard

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Senior Associate, Personal Injury

Lisa Atkinson

Your Clinical Negligence claim

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