£31,000 Compensation for Neglect on a Hospital Ward

How We Helped

Mr Thawley’s family contacted our Medical Negligence Lawyers and we took on the case on a No Win, No Fee basis. Our Medical Negligence Lawyer arranged a medical examination with an independent plastic surgeon to assess Mr Thawley’s condition.

The types of pressure sores Mr Thawley had developed, which are also known as bed sores or pressure ulcers, are invariably caused as a result of neglect in the care and management of elderly, immobile, injured or disabled persons. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the rate of pressure ulcers only affect  4–10% of patients admitted to hospitals in the UK – and more often than not, they are predominantly elderly, bedridden, or end of life care. It is noted that patients that are not turned, positioned correctly, and given good nutrition and skin care are also a cause for concern for bed ulcers. 

The main risk factor for the development of pressure sores is not being able to move around and any illness or injury that results in a person having to stay in bed for a long time increases the risk. Old age is a further risk factor as in the case of Mr Thawley, and it’s also known that pressure sores can have serious or even life-threatening complications such as sepsis.

A Partner at Simpson Millar argued that the hospital nursing staff could have prevented the bed sores with better training, supervision and education – which would or should have emphasised the importance of repositioning vulnerable patients to relieve prolonged pressure on the bony areas of the heels and lower back. They should also have used bed positioning devices, such as pillows, a specialised mattress, foam wedges and suchlike.

The Outcome

The Hospital Trust eventually admitted negligence and agreed to settle the case out of Court for a total compensation settlement of £31,000. On the basis of the medical report obtained, we were able to claim back all the care home fees, which Mr Thawley had paid out from his savings during his long recovery period after being discharged from hospital.

We were also able recover compensation for his pain, suffering and loss of amenity and any other losses and expenses caused by the hospital’s negligence.

Mr Thawley said, "I had to go through a terrible ordeal during my stay at Leicester Royal Infirmary, but thanks to Simpson Millar, I got justice in the end."

How Simpson Millar Can Help 

Official figures published in The Times in April 2023 show that The NHS spent £160 million paying out bereaved families last year for failures resulting in death, including after equipment malfunction, bacterial infection and medication errors – meaning that medical negligence is an increasingly growing claims process.

We understand that taking legal action can be daunting, but we pride ourselves on our friendly and supportive approach. When you come to us, you can expect a personal service tailored to you and your needs – Contact our Medical Negligence Solicitors for a free claims assessment, by calling us on 0808 239 6043.