Following on from our recent ‘Myths of Medical Negligence’ blog, Sue Edwards, Head or Personal Injury and Medical Negligence at Howells Solicitors, explains further the worries clients may have in bringing a claim and also the positive outcomes a successful claim can bring to their lives.
Why Are People Often Reluctant to Claim Against the NHS?
Some of the main issues that people seem to maintain surrounding NHS claims:
• Why claim money from a service that is supposed to help people?
• Everyone makes mistakes. I don’t want the surgeon/GP/medical professional sacked!
• I don’t want people to judge me.
• I can’t afford the solicitors fees.
• I don’t want the added stress on top of this already traumatic time.
It is understandable that people have concerns when it comes to making a claim against the NHS. As a country, we are very lucky to have it. However, mistakes do happen, and our client’s lives and their family’s lives can be severely affected by negligent medical treatment.
Why We Advise Clients to Make a Medical Negligence Claim?
Clients often experience severe pain from their injuries, can lose their ability to work, have to spend thousands of pounds adapting their homes and potentially have their life expectancy shortened through no fault of their own.
Obviously, our clients would prefer to have just received the correct treatment the first time round so they could have continued with their busy lives. However, when this does not happen, we seek compensation to make their lives easier going forward.
Also, just as importantly, by making a complaint or pursuing a claim, the treating practitioners concerned are made aware of the allegations against them. This usually results in a full investigation being conducted in an attempt to identify where mistakes have been made, so they can be learnt from and further training provided.
It actually gives those who have been affected an opportunity to rightfully make a stance and hopefully prevent the same circumstances from happing to anyone else.
How Much Will a Medical Negligence Claim Cost?
Clients are often concerned about the cost implications to bringing a claim. At Howells Solicitors, our specialist medical negligence department will discuss what funding arrangements are available. We offer funding on a no win, no fee basis, so there is nothing for you to pay if your claim is unsuccessful and we do not charge for an initial consultation.
A claim is the start of seeking closure for a mistake that has had a detrimental impact on your life. Here at a Howells, we have a very professional and friendly team who are vastly experienced, and we know how to run a successful medical negligence claim. We handle all the paperwork, liaise with professionals on your behalf and take all the stress away from you.
If you would like some more information about making a claim, then please get in touch with our medical negligence solicitors today.
