Examples of hospital infection claims

Infections acquired in hospitals, or from receiving inadequate treatment which leads to the worsening of infection, can have a disastrous effect on the health of a patient.

An estimated 7% of all patients who are admitted to hospital will contract an infection during their stay, according to The Department of Health and Social Care. It also released figures in 2016 that E-coli infections alone killed more than 5,500 NHS patients across the UK. 

Negligence on part of the NHS is not the cause of all infections acquired. Of those infections that are contracted due to negligence, not all will go on to harm the patient or hinder their treatment. However, if an infection or illness is as a result of medical negligence, you may be entitled to make a claim.

In order to have a successful compensation claim, you must prove that the infection was contracted due to the negligence of the hospital or alternatively, that it has been exacerbated by a delay in diagnosis and treatment which have resulted in a detrimental effect on your health.

Examples of infection negligence

We have outlined below examples of infection negligence that can be claimed for:

• Missed or delayed treatment of an infection
• The use of infected medical implements
• Treated with a contaminated blood transfusion and contracted Hepatitis A, B, C or HIV
• Failing to take signs of post-operative infection seriously
• Not following hygiene procedures properly
• Inadequate disposal of used implements and dressings
• Inadequate cleaning of facilities
• Infection contracted from Central Venous Catheters or Implantable Venous Access Devices or Ports where signs of infection are missed resulting in the delay of treatment or the infection going untreated.

How Thompsons NI can help

If you have concerns about the medical treatment you have received, please contact Joanne Kerr or Oonagh McClure on 02890 890450 for a free consultation. Alternatively, visit our medical negligence page for more information on starting a claim.