A&E Negligence Compensation Claims

Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments undoubtedly provide a vital and life-saving service. According to NHS Digital attendance at accident and emergency departments in England fell from 25.0m in 2019-20 to 17.4m in 2020-21, a drop of 30.3%, new NHS Digital figures show.

If you were admitted to an A&E ward in England or Wales and experienced medical or clinical negligence, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Call our specialist solicitors on 0800 342 3206 or contact us online to arrange a call-back at a convenient time.

Types of A&E Negligence

According to the British Medical Association, there were a total of over 2 million A&E attendances in September 2022 – a slight increase from the 1.99 million waiting in August 2022.

Waiting times have rocketed

The combination of ongoing pressure on services, the backlog of care, and chronic workforce shortages means waiting times have increased to record highs.

The number of patients waiting over 12 hours from decision to admission has increased by 14%, bringing the total number to a record high of 32,800. It is now over 88 times as high as it was in August 2019. This figure also represents an underestimate of actual waiting times, as patients will have been waiting for additional time before a ‘decision to admit’ was made.

Because A&E is the busiest NHS department, it is arguably also the most prone to error. While most people are treated effectively, in a small minority of cases, because A&E is such a demanding and pressured environment, mistakes can and do happen.

Some of the scenarios in which negligence takes place involve medical professionals who have:

• Failed to diagnose an illness or underlying medical condition
• Failed to take a proper patient history
• Misinterpreted test results (e.g. scans, x-rays and blood tests)
• Failed to assess patients thoroughly
• Incorrectly sent home patients instead of admitting them for further treatment
• Administered incorrect medication or treatment
• Misdiagnosed fractured or broken bones

Making a claim

Medical professionals working in Accident and Emergency departments are specially trained to deal with such a high-pressure and fast-paced environment. If you are harmed as a result of a doctor, nurse or another member of staff failing to meet the standards expected of them, you are legally entitled to make a compensation claim.

An injury or illness caused by A&E negligence can have a significant impact on an individual and sometimes there can be long-term consequences. Making a compensation claim is one way you can reduce the financial burden associated with an illness or injury.

Primarily, making a claim will compensate you for the illness or injury you have experienced. However, it can also help to cover other associated costs. Compensation can help you meet the costs of treatment, care or therapy you may require as a result of A&E negligence. If you have been unable to work, a claim can help you to recover your loss of earnings.

If you think you have been affected by medical negligence in an A&E department, you should contact us for advice.

In most cases, you have just three years in which to make a claim. It is, therefore, very important that you begin your claim as soon as possible.

Claiming for A&E Negligence with Jefferies Solicitors

At Jefferies, our solicitors are ready to help you. From the very beginning, we will guide you through the legal process and be on-hand to answer your questions.

No win, no fee compensation

We usually work on a no win, no fee basis. This means that you can pursue a clinical negligence claim without there being any financial risk to you or your family.

Call our expert team today on 0800 342 3206. Alternatively, complete the online form on our website to arrange a no-obligation conversation to discuss your potential claim.