Pages On: Medical Negligence

Suspended Urologist under investigation for negligent cancer surgery practices

Posted: 22 March 2016

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Negligent Cancer Diagnosis, NHS Claims

Local events are being held in the Solihull area to update ex-patients of consultant urologist, Arackal Narayan Manu Nair, following his suspension in April 2014. Known as Mr Manu Nair, the surgeon was suspended when colleagues grew concerned at some of his surgical practices. At the time he was working at Solihull Hospital, Heartlands Hospital and Spire Parkway and doubts were raised surrounding his treatment of men suffering from prostate cancer. The events, which are being run by Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, are being held between the 21-30 March in St…

Lives under threat due to lack of registered nurses

Posted: 15 March 2016

Posted in: Medical Negligence

Nurse to patient ratios have been the subject of research carried out by the University of Southampton and King’s College London. Dr Jane Ball from the University of Southampton, author of the research, has highlighted the importance of registered nurse levels caring for patients on the safety of patients. It was found in the study that patients being cared for by nurses caring for 6 patients or fewer have an increased chance of getting better than those whose nurses are caring for more. She identified that hospitals that rely more on lesser…

New motion passed allows hospital inspectors to close wards

Posted: 21 February 2016

Posted in: Medical Negligence

Following investigations into the Clostridium difficile (C. Diff) outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital in late 2007 to 2008, a motion has been put before Holyrood that allows hospital inspectors to close wards to new patients. The regulation will come into practice from April of next year if approved by MSPs. Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) inspectors would only use the powers as a “last resort” according to Health Secretary Shona Robison. The review of care at Vale of Leven Hospital in West Dunbartonshire highlighted that C. Diff was a contributory factor…

Four patients test positive for Hepatitis C after using Ayrshire dentist

Posted: 31 January 2016

Posted in: Medical Negligence

Ayrshire dentist Alan Morrison has been accused of putting his patients’ health at risk by using dirty equipment and reusing disposable gloves between November 2012 and September 2013. It has also been alleged that two of his staff have been involved in attempting to cover up the clinical negligence. Around 6,000 of Morrison’s patients were exposed to the risk of blood-borne diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis due to practices carried out at the surgery.  Morrison had clinics in Cumnock and Drongan in Ayrshire, and patients were sent letters to undergo…

Late medical negligence application refused for birth injury claimant

Posted: 21 December 2015

Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence

A late application to amend a woman’s claim against a health board has been refused. 23-year-old Jill Clark was left permanently brain-damaged after suffering a severe brain injury during birth. She sued Greater Glasgow Health Board for £15million, claiming that midwives and doctors “negligently mismanaged” her mother’s labour. A Court of Session judge ruled that the minute of amendment — proposing a new “risk disclosure” case based on the UK Supreme Court’s decision in Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board — “conflicts with the principle of finality”. It was heard in…

Review into patient death at QEU Hospital in Glasgow

Posted: 8 November 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A thorough investigation is currently underway after an elderly man died on a trolley in one of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital’s corridors while awaiting treatment. It was heard that the patient suffered a cardiac arrest during his six-hour wait in the £842m hospital’s Immediate Assessment Unit corridor. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) said that a review of the patient’s treatment is currently being carried out. It was heard that the patient, who remains unnamed, arrived at the unit when it was extremely busy and “under pressure”. Patients that…

Family call for NHS scan results to be controlled

Posted: 25 September 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Negligent Cancer Diagnosis, NHS Claims

James Docherty from Airdrie was informed that he had terminal cancer more than a year after having scans taken. He received the scans in 2012 following health concerns, but was only informed of the cancer in 2013 when his family contacted his GP saying that they were still awaiting test results. Mr Docherty died in 2014. 2009 saw ministers create the target that no one should have to wait longer than 6 weeks to have key diagnostic tests performed. However, June of this year saw a total of 6,448 people…

Victim’s families call for better asbestos screening

Posted: 15 August 2015

Posted in: Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma, Negligent Cancer Diagnosis

Where illnesses associated with the construction industry kill around 4,000 people every year in the UK, the families of asbestos sufferers have called for better screenings to be made available for the condition. According to the Clydeside Action on Asbestos charity, early detection can greatly improve the life expectancy of patients with an asbestos-related illness. Lynsey Innes’s father Gordon Roberts, a retired joiner, died of mesothelioma — a form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure — earlier this year, aged 70. She said he first went to the doctor after experiencing…

Health board criticised over seriously late cancer diagnosis

Posted: 23 July 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Negligent Cancer Diagnosis

A health board in Scotland has been criticised after it was discovered that it took over a year to inform a patient that he was dying of cancer. The patient, who remains anonymous, was given a scan in 2012 after having a tumour removed from his bowel. Despite the scan clearly showing that the cancer had spread, he was not informed of this until 2013. The patient died ten months later. The Scottish Public Service Ombudsman raised concerns that this situation would repeat itself in NHS Lanarkshire. The ombudsman said:…

NHS Scotland’s “systematic” care failings

Posted: 10 July 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, NHS Claims

According to a body that represents health professionals in Scotland, the NHS has to address a number of “systematic failures”. With a number of reported issues in staffing and leadership, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties recommended the NHS to agree upon minimum staffing levels for all hospitals in the country. The Scottish Government, however, said that staffing-levels were at their highest ever rate. The academy looked at three reports of serious care failings in NHS Scotland and set up a group to look at how the health…

Hospital halts children's heart operations after three deaths

Posted: 29 June 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A Glasgow hospital has suspended heart operations on children after it emerged that three children died after having operations there. The fatalities occurred at Yorkhill Hospital, which was closed earlier this month, within one month of each other. The National Services Division, on behalf of the Scottish Government, has since launched an investigation, which will look at the cardiology department, intensive care, anaesthetics and cardiac surgery. Where the hospital has been closed, the services have been moved to the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children at the South Glasgow Hospitals…

Inadequate hygiene standards in Edinburgh hospital

Posted: 22 June 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A recent inspection at an Edinburgh hospital labour ward found hygiene standards to be highly inadequate. The team from the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate made worrying findings, including contaminated hospital cots and dirty equipment. NHS Lothian has been told to make immediate improvements. The inspection was carried out unannounced at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in April. Despite NHS Lothian stating that 67 out of 70 patients were pleased with the cleanliness of the ward, inspectors found that a number of the cots and equipment were contaminated with blood, and hand hygiene…

Cancer death caused by multiple incorrect and late diagnoses

Posted: 2 May 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Negligent Cancer Diagnosis

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) has upheld a complaint from the family of a woman who died of late diagnosed cancer. The SPSO has said that the GP practice fell below the General Medical Council (GMC) standards in its care for the patient.  The GP practice has not been named but is a member of the NHS Highland Health Board. Doctors did not reasonably diagnose an “extremely large” tumour according to the watchdog, and failed to identify the recurrence of cancer that the patient, Mrs A, had suffered from in…

NHS botches routine surgery for appendix removal and hernia repair

Posted: 21 April 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, NHS Claims

Following a routine surgical procedure at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, former boxer, David Porter, 42, claims that his life has been destroyed. It has been claimed that his bladder and testicles were severely damaged during an operation to remove his appendix and repair a hernia. Mr Porter, who graduated in management and formerly worked in the oil industry, claims that authorities have turned their backs on him and are not taking his condition seriously. Following damage to his testicles, Mr Porter, of Rosemount, Aberdeen, was given hormone-replacement therapy which resulted in him…

Mother wins £5m in compensation for son brain-damaged at birth

Posted: 26 March 2015

Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence

A mother has been awarded £5million in compensation after her son was born with severe brain damage following birthing complications. 40-year-old Nadine Montgomery won the compensation over the claim that doctors failed to provide her with proper advice, which could have led to her son having had a safer caesarean birth in 1999. Sam Montgomery, now 16-years-old, requires around the clock care. Mrs Montgomery had previous had her claim rejected on two occasions at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Judges at the Supreme Court, London, however, supported her claim against…

Baby health visits suspended as NHS struggles to fill Islands' vacancies

Posted: 15 March 2015

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence

Numerous health visiting services on the Western Isles have been provisionally suspended as a result of problems filling vacancies at the Islands’ health board. A spokesperson from NHS Western Isles said that it’s making “every effort” to recruit additional full-time posts in its health visiting team. Services currently suspended include routine postnatal visits, but the spokesperson said that visits such as those to new mothers and their children were being prioritised. Parents on the islands are currently being told to take their children to clinics for assessments as even 27-month home…

A&E time targets missed across Scotland

Posted: 3 March 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence

Recently released figures show that A&E departments across Scotland failed to meet the national standard in January. The figures cover all major hospitals in Scotland, and show that only 87% of people were treated within the four-hour waiting time target, as opposed to the expected 95%. In the week between 16 and 22 February, 86% of people were seen in four hours, in comparison to 88% over the same week in England. The Health Secretary, Shona Robison, said that more needed to be done to tackle the growing pressures on…

Hospital apologises over elderly patient care

Posted: 25 February 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence

The Galloway Community Hospital has apologised after health inspectors raised concerns about the standard of care provided for elderly patients. Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) carried out inspections at the hospital in November 2014 and January of this year, and said that very few improvements had been made in-between visits.  Following the November inspection, an action plan had been put in place, but inspectors said they failed to find “significant improvements” in January. The inspections were carried out as part of a nationwide programme to examine the standards of care provided…

Fife faces huge medical negligence compensation bill

Posted: 30 January 2015

Posted in: Birth Injury, Criminal Injury and Assault, Medical Negligence, NHS Claims, Workplace Injuries

Fife’s NHS has recently been bombarded with a flood of medical negligence claims that could see them having to pay out £17million in compensation. Recent figures revealed that 77 claimants are currently seeking compensation for medical negligence, with one claiming over a birth defect. Furthering this, they also face a further 31 cases of liability lodged by NHS members of staff, seven of whom are claiming for alleged assaults by patients. Critics have raised the point that NHS Fife’s recent flood of claims is the continuation of a pattern recognised…

Woman dies in hospital blaze

Posted: 18 January 2015

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Public Place Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

An elderly woman died after a fire broke out at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Fire crews were immediately called to the scene after the fire broke out in the Royal Victoria building at around 02:28. The fire crew managed to move fourteen patients from the ward to another complex, but a 75-year-old woman died as a result. The Royal Victoria building is the part of the hospital that specialises in treating the elderly. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was immediately contacted through an automatic fire alarm call.…

Upset over c. diff deaths from hospital outbreak

Posted: 26 November 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

MSP Jackie Baillie broke down in tears in parliament earlier this week with the belief that not enough has been done following the numerous deaths caused by a C. diff outbreak between 2007 and 2008. Ms Baillie has campaigned on behalf of those patients who lost their lives in the infection outbreak for several years, but says that there has still been no justice. The outbreak happened at Vale of Leven Hospital between 2007 and 2008. Of the 143 patients who became ill from the outbreak, 34 patients lost their lives. An…

A&E's patients “are safe” after staff shortage concerns

Posted: 19 October 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

Following recent concerns about staff shortages at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary’s Accident and Emergency department, the chief executive of NHS Scotland has stated that incoming patients “are safe”. Last month A&E consultants told bosses that patients could be at risk as a result of the hospital’s staffing shortages, yet NHS chief executive, Paul Gray, said that patients should have no fear regarding their treatment at the hospital.    Emergency care consultants had a meeting with Mr Gray only days after the board’s chairman, Bill Howatson, stepped down. Mr Howatson said that…

Inspectors tell hospital to improve standards

Posted: 14 October 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A hospital has been told to improve following a recent inspection by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. The investigation was carried out at Inverclyde Royal Hospital (IRH) as part of a routine programme of inspections. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) were told that they had to improve in fourteen different areas following the report. The inspectors found issues ranging from patients’ food and fluid intake not being monitored precisely, to patients’ personalised care plans not being clear enough in detailing specific care needs.   Inspectors flagged up one particular concern: the “Do…

Negative decision on motor neuron disease sufferer's care reversed

Posted: 19 August 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A council told a man in the final stages of motor neurone disease that he was not ill enough to qualify for free personal care on two occasions. East Ayrshire Council informed Andy Masterton that he was too early to apply for benefit as they only provide free care to those four weeks away from death. However, in order to abide by the Council of Scottish Local Authorities’ guidelines, the council recently reversed this decision and granted Mr Masterton with free personal care. Cosla advises councils to provide people under the…

Nursing home to improve or face closure

Posted: 16 June 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

Following a recent inspection, an elderly care home in South Lanarkshire has been told to improve care standards immediately, or face closure. The Care Inspectorate raised “serious concerns” about the care of the elderly residents at Miltongrange Nursing Home in Carluke, issuing the home with the ultimatum of immediate improvement or having its registration cancelled. The key areas highlighted by the Inspectorate were the residents’ nutrition and skin care. On top of this, it was found that staff were lacking key skills and required extensive training, with management and leadership also…

Fears staff shortages will lead to poor A&E care

Posted: 8 June 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A recent report has raised concerns over the hospital care being provided at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Accident and emergency consultants are worried that doctors are struggling to provide “safe care” as a result of severe staff shortages. While a recruitment drive is ongoing at the hospital, worries remain that the number of “senior” A&E doctors could drop from 10 to 2 by August. The NHS Grampian board raised concerns regarding the staffing problem on Friday morning, with the belief that “appropriate medical cover” is of “key importance”. NHS Grampian’s medical director, Dr…

Hospital infection rates remain high

Posted: 28 May 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A recent report carried out by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) found that hospital-acquired infections still pose a huge risk to patients. With previous years seeing great progress in the fight against hospital infections, it would seem that improvements have stalled. With bugs such as c-diff on the decline, there has been little progress regarding other hospital bugs since around 2012. The report proposed a strategy to help tackle the problem, with many recommendations including handwashing procedures. The national scheme to monitor hospital staff handwashing was scrapped last year as they found it…

Triple in A&E patients waiting longer than four hours

Posted: 9 May 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A recent report has revealed that three times as many people have to wait for treatment in A&E than five years ago.  With the national target expecting 98% of A&E patients to be seen within a four-hour window, the report found that NHS Scotland has rarely managed to reach this. The report highlighted that 104,000 people waited beyond the four-hour target in 2012-13, compared with 36,000 people in 2008-09. The Health Secretary, Alex Neil, argued that NHS Scotland is “treating more emergency patients than ever before”. Labour, however, have called for…

APIL Expresses Concerns Over Medical Innovation Bill

Posted: 9 May 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has questioned the need for a new bill that seeks to reduce the risks of clinical negligence claims in England & Wales by prescribing when medical innovation is appropriate and responsible.The draft Medical Innovation Bill aims to clarify when a doctor can make a decision to provide treatment that departs from established treatments in the absence of a body of supporting medical opinion without being negligent. However, the APIL warns that with any policy change comes unintended consequences and proposes education rather than…

Inspectors concerned about hospital standards

Posted: 6 May 2014

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Medical Negligence

Inspectors have raised concerns following a recent inspection of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. The hospital had been provided with a set of nine requirements to address following an unannounced Healthcare Environment Inspectorate visit earlier in the year. However, a recent inspection found that some of these areas are still being neglected by the hospital. The NHS Tayside facility has been informed that they must have addressed all nine areas within one month. An action plan has been drawn up to ensure that this is carried out, with areas for improvement including cleaning, handwashing…

Paralysed artist pays £180 a week for care on NHS hospital ward

Posted: 31 March 2014

Posted in: Accidents and Sickness Abroad, Medical Negligence, Spine & Back Injuries

A man who is paralysed from the neck down has to pay £180 a week to receive care on an NHS hospital ward after his living allowance benefit was cut. Edward Rainey (52) has suffered with paralysis since 1984 when he was involved in a swimming accident on holiday. Since the accident, Mr Rainey was able to live in his house in Pollock, Glasgow, but social workers have advised him to go into a care home, or lose his benefits. Edward Rainey is paralysed from the neck down and was “strongly…

Family to sue NHS after major care failures leave mother brain-damaged

Posted: 12 March 2014

Posted in: Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence

The family of a woman who has been left with serious brain damage after doctors mistakenly turned off her life-support machine is planning to sue the NHS for damages of £5million. It has been speculated that this could be one of the biggest compensation cases seen in Scotland. Lorna Baillie was declared “technically dead” after suffering a heart attack two years ago. Doctors then agreed to turn off her life-support system, informing her family that she would be “medically dead” within an hour. 45-minutes later, relatives noticed that she was still breathing…

Compensation conditions to be broadened for psychiatric injuries

Posted: 5 March 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Personal Injury

Personal injury lawyers are currently pressing to broaden the conditions under which psychiatric patients are compensated. It is widely believed that the current test is far too restrictive, and that those suffering with mental injury are not fairly supported. A campaign has been launched to widen the legal definition as we see the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough stadium disaster. The present test suggests that people only have “close ties of human affection” in parent-child relationships, or spouse-fiancé relationships. Furthering this, Alcock v Chief Constable of Yorkshire Police commented…

Investment allows positive improvements in NHS

Posted: 3 March 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

Following concerns about how the NHS was coping with the additional pressure of winter, newly released figures have found some positive improvements. Figures have revealed a large drop in the amount of time patients have to spend in A&E. This follows a major investment of £50m, which was injected into NHS Scotland in an attempt to improve emergency care. The number of patients who had to wait longer than 12 hours in a hospital accident and emergency department has decreased greatly since the investment. Health Secretary Alex Neil said that NHS Scotland is now…

Scottish health staff under immense pressure

Posted: 27 February 2014

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A leading medic has warned that Scotland’s health staff are under “almost intolerable pressure” as a result of cuts in hospital beds, extreme staff shortages and ever-increasing hospital admissions. Health secretary Alex Neil defended this, saying that even though hospital staff are facing increasing pressure, that it’s not all “doom and gloom”. The president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, who is due to leave the position soon, said that an agreed set of manageable standards must be set nationally to help solve the problem. Dr Drewhurst’s comments followed the…

Patient Contracts Hepatitis C at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

Posted: 30 December 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A patient contracted Hepatitis C through cross-contamination at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary’s accident and emergency department earlier this year. NHS Lothian have apologised for “failings” that allowed the contamination to occur, and have followed up with 34 patients who were treated in the A&E department at the same time. Investigations found that the patient most likely became infected through cross-contamination in the hospital’s accident and emergency department. NHS Lothian said that their A&E department has extremely tight infection control measures, but have fully reviewed and improved them as a result of…

NHS Lanarkshire must make urgent improvements

Posted: 19 December 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A recent review carried out by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) has revealed worryingly high death rates in NHS Lanarkshire hospitals. The health board has been urged to make drastic improvements as numerous problems have been highlighted by inspectors; including low levels of staffing, poor provision of care and inaccurate patient record keeping. Although inspectors found no definite contributory factors towards the board’s above-average hospital death rates, multiple problems have been uncovered. As a result of probing Wishaw, Monklands and Hairmyers Hospitals, inspectors made 21 recommendations to improve standards. A government-appointed team will…

Pensioner’s wheelchair fall from medical lift on bus investigated

Posted: 25 November 2013

Posted in: Head and Brain Injuries, Leg Injuries, Medical Negligence, Public Place Accidents, Public Transport

The Scottish Borders Council is currently investigating why a 75-year-old pensioner fractured her skull when her wheelchair fell from a minibus just outside her care home. The incident occurred on Thursday the 14th of November, and Margaret Bell has remained in the Borders General Hospital since. Mrs. Bell, from Galasheils, was being assisted out of the minibus by a medical lift at the Oakview Day Centre when she fell to the ground. The Scottish Borders Council is investigating the incident so that it definitely does not happen again. The investigation will allow a…

Aberdeen care home due to close after highly critical report

Posted: 16 November 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence

After Beach Court — a care home for the elderly operated by Four Seasons Healthcare — was given a one-week window to turn their practices around; a report has found that the conditions have not changed. The Care Inspectorate warned the care home that great improvements had to be made in order for them to remain registered, which they have failed to comply with. The Aberdeen care home is due to close very soon, with conditions there being far below expected healthcare standards. The inspection that was recently carried out uncovered…

NHS nurse mistakes blood poisoning for heartburn

Posted: 9 October 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

43-year-old John Willock died after an NHS 24 nurse misdiagnosed him, and instead told him to take the heartburn remedy Gaviscon. He was in fact suffering from blood poisoning. Mr Willock phoned the NHS telephone line multiple times after he fell ill on Christmas Eve 2009. The father of two from Erskine had been delivering presents to friends when he fell on ice, after which he became seriously ill. When Mr Willock fell on the ice he injured his knee, started to show “flu-ish” symptoms, was shivering and felt sick — the…

String of mistakes by doctor at sick children hospital in Edinburgh

Posted: 4 October 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence

Concerns have been raised over the work of a senior doctor at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, after a series of errors resulted in the poor treatment of three children at the hospital. Dr Kiran Patwardhan was a consultant at the hospital when a 15-month-old baby came in with scolds to the face and neck. When attempting to treat the baby, Dr Patwardhan’s made a series of errors, which almost resulted in the baby’s death. Dr Patwardhan admitted to the string of mistakes that he has been held accountable…

How many of us actually experience accidental awareness during anaesthesia?

Posted: 23 September 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence

A study carried out earlier this year has revealed that more of us experience accidental awareness under general anaesthetic than first thought. The national data — based on an audit for the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland — uncovered that around 15,000 patients had proven to their doctors that they could recall aspects of their surgery; however, when further probed, a much higher figure (1 in 500) could recall being partially conscious under general anaesthetic. Accidental awareness during surgery is the third…

Nursing home investigated following four deaths

Posted: 19 September 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

An Edinburgh nursing home, Pentland Hill, is being investigated after four of their residents died in the last few months. Police Scotland were first called to the home in July when a 67-year-old woman died suddenly, but soon discovered that the problem was far greater than first anticipated. Inspectors discovered that the home was battling some serious issues, including problems with their management sector and problems with the level of care being provided to their residents. The Bupa-run home is currently receiving multiple complaints from residents’ families and has been ordered…

Increasing complaints against Scotland’s doctors

Posted: 11 August 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence

The General Medical Council (GMC) has newly published figures that reveal a drastic increase in complaints issued against doctors practising in Scotland. The GMC’s figures disclosed an increase in serious complaints between 2007 and 2012 — with 69 cases being recognised in 2007, and 126 last year. The figures were published after Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon posed a question in parliament concerning the quality of Scotland’s health care.  The figures revealed that out of the 54 ‘fitness to practice’ hearings — between 2007-2012 — eight doctors were banned from practising as…

Disciplinary action for doctors who fail to meet hand washing standards

Posted: 4 August 2013

Posted in: Food Poisoning, Medical Negligence

The Scottish Conservatives argue that NHS doctors who fail to meet hand-washing standards should receive disciplinary action. After recent figures found that around one in ten doctors failed to meet hygiene standards, health spokesman and the Scottish Conservatives’ deputy leader, Jackson Carlaw, argued that more needed to be done. Bacteria on our hands: An average person’s hand can carry around 3,000 different bacteriaThese bacteria belong to over 100 speciesDamp hands spread 1,000 times more germs than dry handsEvery individual has a unique bacteria ‘fingerprint’This can still be traced after two weeks…

Baby dies in hospital due to poor care

Posted: 19 July 2013

Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death

After a baby died in April 2012 due to a fractured skull, a coroner has said that this could have been prevented by better care. On the day of baby Frank Gamble’s birth, hospital staff tried to deliver him with forceps and called for a caesarean section after their third failed attempt at delivery. Soon after he was delivered, Frank died from a brain bleed at Colchester General Hospital in Essex. Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray strongly believes that this could have been prevented had they opted for a caesarean after their first failed…

Improvements in Scottish hospital safety

Posted: 6 March 2013

Posted in: Medical Negligence

Recent figures released by the Scottish Government have shown a 12.4% drop in hospital mortality following the introduction of the world-leading Scottish Patient Safety Programme in 2008. Cabinet Secretary for Health, Alex Neil, said: “It’s good to hear about the measures that staff have put in place. They are small changes, but they make a big difference — and they save lives.“Our NHS should be rightly proud of what has been achieved.“It’s because of success like this that we have decided to expand the safety programme to maternity units and…

Mother wins compensation for son brain-damaged at birth

Posted: 15 January 2013

Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence

A mother has successfully claimed compensation on behalf of her son, who suffered severe brain damage at birth as a result of errors by medical staff, reports the Daily Mail. Clare Scott pursued her claim against the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Trust for 12 years, after the Trust initially denied liability in the case. Mrs Scott had a normal, healthy pregnancy until she went into labour and attended the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset. During her labour, the midwives did not notice for some time that the umbilical cord had become…

Care home provider fined after elderly resident died

Posted: 15 November 2012

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Neck Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A South Lanarkshire care home provider has been fined after an elderly resident, Mrs Elizabeth Stevenson, died after breaking her neck in a fall. The company admitted to failing to review and update a risk assessment for Mrs Stevenson and failing to provide adequate care instruction and supervision to their employees engaged in moving and handling residents of the care home in Uddingston. In October 2008, a carer in the home was in the process of assisting Mrs Stevenson in undressing in order to transfer her from her bed to…

Committee calls for tighter safety on medical implants

Posted: 8 November 2012

Posted in: Medical Negligence, Negligent Cosmetic Surgery

EU regulations on the safety of medical implants — such as metal-on-metal hip replacements — must be urgently tightened. This in response to evidence that manufacturers are seeking approval for devices in Member States with the least stringent regulatory regimes, MPs have warned in a recent report. Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, Andrew Miller MP, said: “Thousands of patients use medical implants in the UK every day without problem. When things do go wrong with implants however, it can ruin lives — as the complications with metal-on-metal hip…

GPs incorrectly diagnosing work-related asthma

Posted: 29 October 2012

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease, Medical Negligence

Recent research from the University of Birmingham has found that GPs are often failing to correctly diagnose work related asthma in patients. One in ten cases of adult asthma are caused by work related factors, but the research found that GPs are not correctly identifying this in around 75% of patients.According to the research, around 3000 people a year develop asthma because of exposure to materials at work. Where this is diagnosed early, patients have a good chance of a complete recovery. However, two thirds of patients will never make…

Medical Negligence Compensation

Posted in: Medical Negligence

If you have been injured as a result of medical negligence in the last three years, and it wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. The amount you are able to claim depends on the type and severity of your injury. Personal Injury Claims Aberdeen can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us for more information in making a personal injury claim in Aberdeen. Medical Negligence Claims Aberdeen In the overwhelmingly vast majority of cases, we put ourselves in the hands of the…