Nurses provide an invaluable service and form a key component of hospital services.
They provide hands-on care to patients by administering medications, managing intravenous lines, observing and monitoring patients’ conditions, maintaining records and communicating with doctors.
Unfortunately, difficulties in maintaining adequate numbers of nursing staff on wards and a heavy reliance on agency staff among other things mean that standards of nursing care can vary significantly, not only between different hospitals but between different wards of the same hospital.
As a result mistakes can be made by nurses. Some of the most common which give rise to medical negligence claims are:
- Failure to adequately assess and monitor a patient’s condition
- Failure to carry out adequate/appropriate risk assessments
- Failure to promptly respond to a patients deteriorating condition
- Making errors regarding patient treatment or medication
- Errors in using medical equipment
Whilst we appreciate that patients may have more general complaints about the overall standard of nursing care they have received, it is however only when nursing errors have resulted in specific injury or harm that it is likely a medical negligence claim can be made.
In respect of more general issues about nursing care we would suggest that a formal complaint is made. This will ensure that your grievances are still heard and that the failings of the hospital are suitably highlighted so that hopefully such problems will not be repeated.
If you or a family member may have suffered an injury as a result of failings in nursing care however, then you may be entitled to compensation.
We at Freemans have a wealth of experience in dealing with all types of Clinical Negligence claims and we will ensure that your claim is investigated fully in a sensitive manner. We will work tirelessly to ensure that not only is compensation secured for the pain and losses caused by the injuries suffered but that support and any further treatment and rehabilitation needed can be sought.
Please call one of our solicitors today on 0191 222 1030 for a free consultation in relation to your claim or complete our website enquiry form.
