Hospital Infection Claims

Thousands of people die from hospital-acquired infections, such as septicaemia and MRSA, every year in the UK. If allowed to develop, these infections can cause permanent injuries and can even be fatal.

If you’ve contracted an infection while in any healthcare setting, such as a hospital or a nursing home, you may be able to claim compensation. Early detection is crucial with hospital-acquired infections in order to prevent long-term damage. You may also be able to claim compensation if a medical mistake led to a delay in the diagnosis of your infection and the start of your treatment.

What Are Common Hospital-Acquired Infections?

MRSA and C.difficile are two of the most common hospital-acquired infections. They affect thousands of individuals in the UK every year and can be extremely serious.

MRSA, or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, a common cause of wound infections and, in serious cases, can infect the internal organs causing septicemia, bone infections and pneumonia.

It is known as a ‘superbug’ because it is resistant to a number of antibiotics and it can be life-threatening. It is particularly dangerous for those who have a weakened immune system, such as: the elderly, newborn babies, those with a long-term health condition like diabetes or those with an open wound such as catheters.

MRSA is treated with antibiotics and healthcare providers can prevent its spread by following good hygiene practices such as covering open wounds, screening other patients for MRSA and regularly disinfecting surfaces.

Clostridium difficile, also known as C. difficile or C. diff, is bacteria that can infect the bowel, causing diahorrea and serious bowel problems. Like MRSA, it is treated with antibiotics and can be easily spread between people – making it vital that healthcare providers keep to strict hygiene standards.

What Counts As Medical Negligence In Hospital-Acquired Infection Cases?

Healthcare providers, such as hospitals and nursing homes, have a duty of care to ensure that their premises meet are safe and hygienic, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. They also must ensure that treatment is prompt and effective, to ensure patient’s conditions do not worsen unnecessarily. If your healthcare setting failed to follow hygiene procedural guidelines, such as covering open wounds and separating other patients with infections, you may be able to claim compensation. Also, if the diagnosis of your hospital-acquired infection was delayed for any reason, such as your medical professional failed to recognise the early symptoms or your referral to the hospital after being diagnosed was delayed, this may amount to medical negligence. Our expert team of medical negligence solicitors will discuss the details of your case and determine whether more could have been done to prevent your infection.

Our solicitors are serious personal injury experts, with the experience and knowledge to secure maximum compensation in the most challenging cases. Each team member works with specialist medical experts, using an in-depth investigative approach, to understand the details of every claim and ensure the best possible result for their client. Unlike general practice law firms, serious personal injuries — such as hospital-acquired infections — are our main focus. This particular level of expertise enables us to succeed where other law firms fail, and we are frequently instructed by clients who have been inadequately advised elsewhere.