A&E Claims: Accident & Emergency Negligence Claims

Before being seen by a doctor, you will be assessed by a nurse. This process is known as triage; it is designed to ensure that the care of patients with serious conditions is prioritised and patients are treated in order of priority. In some cases, the severity of a patient’s illness may be underestimated at the assessment stage, potentially resulting in further complications.

• Treatment, transfer or discharge

How you are treated during the third stage depends on the outcome of your assessment; you may need further tests and, if so, will be led to a different area of the A&E department almost immediately. If you are presenting with less severe symptoms, you will be asked to wait until a doctor can assess your situation. In some cases, you may be redirected to a less urgent care centre such as walk in centre, or asked to make an appointment with your GP.

Problems in A&E

A current problem in A&E is waiting times. The waiting time target for patients visiting A&E has been set at four hours from arrival to treatment, transfer or discharge; however, this target is often not met. Patients presenting with less severe injuries – such as potential fractures – may have to wait longer. When waiting times are high, stress amongst staff members can cause errors to occur more frequently, resulting in complications for the affected patients. A lack of beds throughout the hospital may mean that patients who should be hospitalised are sent home.

Can I make an A&E Claim?

If you feel that the treatment you receive in A&E was sub-standard and contributed to complications with your condition, you may be able to make a successful claim for compensation. Common claims people make against A&E departments include:

• Failure to order x-rays or other scans
• Failure to identify the seriousness of a condition
• Failure to diagnose a patient’s condition/misdiagnosis
• Failure to diagnose fractures, resulting in further complications
• Failure to assess patients properly due to excessive waiting times and staff shortages
• Failure to identify severe conditions, such as heart attacks, haemorrhages and spinal cord injuries
• Failure to respond appropriately to children who are ill and presenting with potential symptoms of meningitis
• Failure to carry out appropriate tests
• Failure to interpret tests correctly
• Failure to identify patients with mental health issues who are at risk of harming themselves or others

If you have been affected by any of the above, contact Yorkshire leading Medical Negligence Solicitors at Grieves Solicitors, Let’s discuss what has happened, we will then be able to best advise on what to do next with regards to progressing a claim for compensation. We will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.