Hospital negligence occurs when the standard of care provided by a hospital falls short of their duty, causing harm to a patient. This can happen during emergency treatment in A&E, scheduled surgeries or specialist appointments, and can lead to injuries, infections or other complications due to substandard care.

Healthcare professionals in both NHS and private hospitals owe a duty of care to their patients. This duty requires doctors, nurses, and other medical staff to provide a standard of care that ensures patient safety and well-being.

When this duty is breached and results in harm, patients have the right to seek compensation for hospital negligence.

Unfortunately, hospital negligence commonly occurs in hospital settings in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland alone, the NI Department of Health reports hundreds of new clinical/social care negligence cases are opened every year – with millions of pounds paid out in compensation annually.

Some of the most common forms of hospital negligence can lead to the following types of negligence claims:

• Hospital Infection Claims – when patients contract hospital infections due to poor hospital hygiene, inadequate sterilisation or failure to follow infection control protocols. Sometimes these infections can cause severe health complications and prolonged recovery times.
• Delayed Treatment Claims – when patients are not provided with the necessary medical care in time, the health condition can deteriorate. Negligence like this can happen due to administrative errors, understaffing or miscommunication.
• Misdiagnosis Claims – Misinterpreting hospital test results means patients can sometimes receive an incorrect diagnosis from doctors. This has a knock on effect, leading to delayed recovery and unnecessary procedures.
• Amputation Claims – Amputation claims can be filed when an unnecessary/incorrect amputation is performed due to misdiagnosis, or when a needed amputation is done negligently due to surgical errors.
• Medication Error Claims – When a patient is harmed by incorrect medication, dosage, or failure to account for drug interactions. Such errors can lead to serious health issues and adverse reactions.
• Surgical Error Claims – Claims that arise due to mistakes made during surgery, such as operating on the wrong body part or leaving instruments inside the body. These errors can cause significant harm and require additional surgeries to correct.
• A&E Negligence Claims – A&E negligence can happen when emergency care is mishandled. This often results in delayed treatment, leading to potentially life-threatening situations.
• Childbirth Negligence Claims – Childbirth negligence claims involve errors during labour and delivery, such as improper use of forceps or failure to monitor the baby’s distress. These errors can cause serious injuries to both mother and child.

Hospital negligence payouts aim to compensate victims for the harm caused by substandard care, attempting to restore their standard of living to what it was before the incident.

Compensation is awarded based on individual circumstances, considering the specific impact of the negligence on the claimant’s life.

• Compensation for the Injury
  Claimants can receive compensation for the physical and emotional injuries sustained due to hospital negligence. For example, if you suffered a permanent disability due to a surgical error, the compensation would reflect the severity and lasting impact of the injury.
• Compensation for Past Losses/Expenses
  This includes reimbursement for any financial losses incurred as a direct result of the negligence. Examples include medical bills, travel expenses for treatment, and lost earnings if you were unable to work during your recovery.
• Compensation for Future Losses/Expenses
  Future losses cover anticipated expenses and financial impacts resulting from the negligence. This might include ongoing medical treatments, long-term care needs, or future loss of earnings if your ability to work is permanently affected.

Contact our team today for a free consultation, to see how much your hospital negligence could be worth.

Many people in Northern Ireland come to us for their hospital negligence claim because of our extensive experience and proven success. We’ve secured over a quarter of a million pounds for a client whose spouse’s lung cancer diagnosis was delayed until it became terminal, and won six-figure compensation for a misdiagnosed A&E injury requiring extensive surgery.

We handle sensitive cases with expertise and dedication, ensuring you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.