New figures available to us reveal that there were more than 400 “never events” in the NHS last year (between April 2021 and March 2022) which has raised concerns over the effect of heavy staff workloads on patient safety.
Although the NHS is probably the most respected institution in the UK providing millions of people with healthcare services yearly, some patients have been victims of medical negligence while under the care of the NHS. Some of these negligent treatments are ‘never events’
What Are NHS ‘Never Events’?
The Care Quality Commission defines never events as “serious, largely preventable patient safety incidents that should not occur if healthcare providers have implemented existing national guidance or safety recommendations”.
Never events though relatively rare can be very serious- happening in several hundred cases a year across the NHS.
These new figures have heightened fears about the implications of an overstretched and underfunded health service.
Never events may include foreign objects left inside patients after surgery, surgery being performed on the wrong part of the body, or the use of the wrong implant or prosthesis.
Analysing the 407 never events that occurred in the period under review, there were 98 cases of foreign objects mistakenly being left in patients, including 32 vaginal swabs and 21 surgical swabs.
How To Claim Settlement for Medical Negligence?
If you or your loved one has suffered from medical or clinical negligence while being treated by the NHS, you can make medical negligence compensation claims.
The NHS Resolution states that for you to make a successful claim, you’ll need to prove that the health practitioners failed in their duty of care and you’ll also need to show that the harm caused was as a result of the medical practitioner failing to meet the appropriate standards. In other words, you need to prove “liability” and “causation.”
If you are able to demonstrate that the professional providing healthcare has fallen short of the standard expected of them, then you may be able to claim damages both for the pain you’ve suffered and your general loss of amenity. Additionally, you can also claim for the loss of earnings and other expenses incurred as a result of the alleged negligence.
You should also be aware that medical neglect claims are subject to a three-year limitation period. This means that your claims have to be made within three years of becoming aware of the negligent treatment or harm caused. Reach out to us today to speak with our solicitors and discuss your claims.
Our no win no fee medical negligence policy still stands and you can be sure that you can get justice without any financial implications.
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