It’s no secret that Britain’s accident and emergency departments are overstretched. In fact, across the country, accident and emergency departments register one new patient, on average, every ten minutes.

This often leaves hospital staff themselves overstretched and open to making erroneous judgement calls, which can have devastating consequences on some patients.

If you’re someone who has suffered at the hands of an incorrect diagnosis or improper treatment from a healthcare professional during your time at an accident and emergency department, you may well be entitled to claim for medical negligence if you can establish a solid foundation for your case.

Case study

People can win a six-figure compensation claim after being mistreated by an accident and emergency department.

If you was assessed and released wearing a neck collar for support; however, after a decade of suffering shooting pains and numbness, it was discovered via an inquiry that you was suffering from spinal cord compression, and finds walking and keeping your balance a daily struggle, and will need medical treatment for the rest of your life.

How much compensation can I expect to be awarded?

The compensation for the damages awarded as a result of a blunder by accident and emergency staff usually average at around £15,000.

However, depending on the type of injury a person has sustained, the compensation amount can amount to a considerably greater sum. Other examples of the kinds of sums given to victims of medical negligence in accident and emergency departments include:

• Ruptured knee tendon - £250,000
• Missed scaphoid fracture - £232,500
• Sub-arachnoid haemorrhage - £150,000

Common reasons for accident and emergency negligence claims include:

• Inadequate cleaning, suturing and dressing of wounds;
• Failure to diagnose and treat a fracture;
• Failure to carry out diagnostic blood tests;
• Failure to correctly interpret diagnostic blood tests;
• Inappropriate or inadequate treatment of fractures;
• Failure to request X-rays or scans to be carried out;
• Failure to interpret X-rays or scans correctly;
• Failure to recognise when a patient is likely to self-harm or commit suicide;
• Failure to identify the gravity or progression/stage of a condition and making the wrong diagnosis.

However, the types of medical negligence and resulting injuries can be much further ranging then the points listed above.

If you strongly feel that the care provided to you or a loved one during your or their treatment at an accident and emergency department has been severely lacking, and has also resulted in illness or injury that can be directly linked to a negligent act or negligent advice, then it’s likely that you have a strong case to claim compensation for medical negligence.