Never Events in Healthcare and When to Claim Compensation
If you have been the victim of a 'never event' in the course of your medical care, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
The patient's right to compensation
A patient is legally entitled to make a claim for compensation if their medical care has in some way been negligent and has caused an adverse outcome which would not have been the case with an acceptable level of care.
As well as recognising the patient's pain and suffering, a successful compensation claim addresses any financial losses, both past and future, which the patient has suffered as a consequence of the negligence. This will vary from person to person but may include the patient's loss of income where the consequences of the negligence are such that the patient is now restricted in the hours they can work or the type of employment which they can undertake.
If the patient is now reliant to some degree on personal care, the associated costs may also be taken into account.
Never event impact
In comparison to the vast number of procedures which take place across the NHS in England on a daily basis, 'never events' only occur in a tiny fraction of cases. In occasional circumstances, the consequences can be catastrophic, however, undermining the patient's health and quality of life on a permanent basis.
The impact which a 'never event' may have on a patient will vary according both to the patient's condition and the nature of the negligence. This may, for example, relate to misadministration of medication, wrong site surgery, or leaving a surgical item in a patient following surgery.
If the patient suffers significant problems as a result of a 'never event' it may be possible to claim compensation.
When to claim compensation
Compensation claims for medical negligence need to be issued with a court within three years of the date of the alleged negligence so it is important to contact a specialist solicitor at the earliest possible moment. They will need plenty of time in which to investigate the quality of your healthcare and its impact, if any, on your well-being.
Specialist legal advice
If you are wondering whether your circumstances could justify a claim for compensation, speak to an expert in medical negligence law.
Glynns Solicitors is a dedicated medical negligence legal practice with a team of experienced solicitors and a history of success in high-value claims. Contact us today to talk to a solicitor about the possibility of making a claim.
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