Have you contracted C. Difficile in hospital?

If you have contracted C. Difficile in a hospital or care home, you could be entitled to make a C. Diff compensation claim

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C Difficile claims

C. Difficile Compensation Claims

C. Difficile, or C. Diff for short, is a common bacterial infection affecting the digestive system. C. Diff infections are especially common in hospitals and nursing homes. Older people with underlying illnesses and people who are taking a lot of antibiotics are specifically at risk of contracting the infection.

Although common, C. Diff infections can easily be avoided in most cases. Nurses and other medical personnel are responsible for taking the necessary precautions, like encouraging the regular use of soap and water and using disposable gloves to minimise the possibility of spreading this dreaded infection.

Although hospitals are (generally) following these precautions, infections still happen and should be treated early on to mitigate the severity of the symptoms.

If you believe that you or a loved one have contracted the infection due to medical negligence, you may be eligible to make a C. Difficile compensation claim.

We work in partnership with medical negligence solicitors that provide their expertise on a no win no fee* basis. This makes the whole process of making a C Difficile claim risk-free, as you will only pay a fee if you receive compensation.

To discuss your chances of making a successful claim, call 0800 470 0474 or arrange a call back with one of our friendly legal advisers.

Find out if you can claim

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    By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by our partners. Find out how we handle your data in our privacy policy. With no win no fee you typically pay 25% of your compensation if your claim is successful, but the fee can vary. Termination fees may apply if you fail to co-operate with your solicitor.

    What is C. Difficile?

    Also known as Clostridium Difficile, C. Difficile is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection. The infection tends to affect those who have finished antibiotic treatments and causes mild to severe digestive problems. C. Diff is highly contagious and can easily infect someone who comes in contact with the bacteria.

    C. Diff is actually one of two types of infections that are transmitted in hospitals quite frequently. Over the past few years, C. Diff infections have been on the rise.

    Although C. Diff infections can also happen outside of a healthcare facility, the C. Diff bacteria can quickly spread due to the negligence of hospital staff.

    C. Difficile can spread rapidly since the resilient bacteria can survive and multiply without oxygen and thrives in areas such as the colon. As the infection and the bacteria spread, it becomes harder to treat.

    Hospitals are often the breeding ground for this infectious bacteria, so protocols are crucial. The bacteria is commonly found in faeces, so victims can easily become contaminated by touching dirty surfaces in a hospital where the bacteria is present or where it has spread.

    Since there is a possibility that the infection can be fatal, it’s vital to diagnose symptoms fast and efficiently. If you are over 65, are on antibiotics, or have recently finished an antibiotics course in a medical facility, you may be at a higher risk of contracting the infection. A weak immune system will also make you more susceptible to catching the bacteria.

    If you or your loved one have contracted C. Diff at the hands of negligent medical staff, a personal injury solicitor can assist you with a C. Difficile compensation claim.

    What are the symptoms of C. Diff?

    The most common early to mid-term infection symptoms include diarrhoea, high temperature, sickness, abdominal cramps, extreme weight loss, and dehydration. If you suspect that you are infected with C. Diff, a blood test and colon examination could be carried out to confirm the diagnosis.

    The first symptom to look out for is mild diarrhoea, which may pass in just a few days from infection. Even though the initial symptom may fade quickly and even painlessly, the infection can still lead to a serious disease or more severe symptoms.

    C. Diff infections can effectively be treated by antibiotics if diagnosed in time, without any serious symptoms or lasting adverse effects. In some severe cases, there can be other complications and abdominal pain. The serious symptoms appear when the disease manifests itself in a form known as pseudomembranous, which is an inflammation of the colon.

    It is worth noting that the symptoms associated with a C. Diff infection can be common side effects of taking antibiotics. However, if you have been treated at a hospital, care home, or another medical facility, it is wise to get tested to ensure that the symptoms are not signs of infection. If these symptoms are not recognised promptly, the infection can become more severe and potentially life-threatening.

    The infection also causes dehydration, which can be fatal in the elderly or for someone who just had a serious operation.

    How can C. Difficile be prevented?

    If you have been diagnosed with C. Difficile infection, it can easily spread to other people who come in contact with you. As we have mentioned, the bacteria leaves the body in faeces, so it is vital to always practice proper hygiene, especially after visiting a hospital or care clinic.

    If you believe you are at risk or have been exposed to someone with C. Diff, some of the essential precautions to avoid infection or curb the spread include the following:

    • Wash your hands frequently and properly with soap and water. Although alcohol-based sanitiser can also be used, there is no substitute for soap and water.
    • Clean all surfaces in your living space, office, and things you frequently touch with bleach-based detergent. This is especially important in the kitchen and bathroom.
    • Your clothes should only be handled by you and should also be washed regularly with strong detergents to kill any traces of the bacteria.

    Hospitals and medical centres have a duty of care to prevent C. Diff infections by making it compulsory for medical staff to wash their hands frequently, especially when entering and leaving patient areas. Alcohol-based sanitisers are generally effective in killing bacteria, but C. Diff is especially hardy and resistant. Good old soap and water will usually do the trick here.

    Can I make a C. Diff compensation claim against the hospital?

    You can make a C. Diff compensation claim against a hospital or medical facility if you believe that you or a member of your family have been infected through the negligence of a medical professional. A personal injury solicitor will assess the validity of your case during a free consultation and may ask for more information to determine if a claim is possible. They will consider the following factors:

    • If any patients in close proximity to you showed any symptoms, and if so, if they were isolated from you. Hospitals are obligated to isolate any patients who are showing symptoms of C. Diff, especially after a diagnosis.
    • Did doctors and nurses wear the required disposable gloves and aprons in the hospital? Were these items discarded properly after treating each patient?
    • Did the hospital abide by the strict heathy and safety protocols that come part and parcel with the territory? All hospitals and care centres should be clean and hygienic at all times, without exception.

    If the hospital or healthcare provider did not observe their duty of care, which resulted in you contracting C. Difficile, you might have solid grounds to make a C. Difficile compensation claim.

    The quickest and easiest way to determine if you have a valid claim is to contact a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation. They can still look at the merits of your case and advise you on the best way forward.

    To arrange a free consultation, which is provided without any obligation to proceed, call 0800 470 0474. Alternatively, if you would prefer to receive a call back, you can arrange this by entering your details into our claim form.

    How long do I have to make a C. diff claim?

    If you or a family member have been infected with C. Difficile due to medical negligence from a hospital or care home, you should speak with a medical negligence solicitor as soon as possible.

    As with all personal injury claims, there is a statutory time limit within which a C. Difficile compensation claim needs to be made. This time limit is three years from the date of the infection or when medical negligence came to light.

    If you fail to start your claim within the three year time limit, your case will become statute-barred. This effectively means you have run out of time and can no longer make a C. Difficile claim, regardless of how strong your claim may be.

    Under the Limitation Act 1980, there are some exceptions to the typical three year time limit. These exceptions are as follows:

    • If the person who has contracted C. Difficile does not have the mental capacity to conduct legal proceedings on their own, somebody else could claim on their behalf. This could come into play if the person has certain health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Down’s Syndrome or Autism. In these situations, there is no time limit.
    • If a child under 18 years old contracts C. Difficile, the time limit is suspended until their 18th birthday. Like with people who lack mental capacity, another person can make a personal injury claim on behalf of a child. Alternatively, once the child turns 18, they can start their own claim and will have three years to do so.

    In both situations described above, the person claiming on behalf of somebody else is called a litigation friend, and this would typically be a family member or close friend.

    If you would like to find out more about making a C. Difficile claim on behalf of somebody else, speak to a legal adviser today by calling 0800 470 0474 or arrange to receive a call back.

    How much compensation can I claim for C. Difficile?

    Contracting C. Difficile can have a significant impact on your life. Not only can it cause considerable pain and suffering, but it can also prevent you from working and spending time with your family and friends.

    If your C. Difficile diagnosis resulted from medical negligence in a hospital or care home, you should be entitled to claim compensation. But how much compensation can you claim for C. Difficile?

    Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer to this question. How much compensation you are entitled to claim will ultimately depend on several factors, such as:

    • What symptoms did you suffer as a result of C. Difficile?
    • How long did these symptoms last?
    • Have you been left with any long-term or permanent health issues?
    • Did you have to take time off work, and if so, did you lose income as a result?
    • Have you suffered any other financial losses, such as paying for medical costs, transport costs to hospital appointments, etc.?

    As you would probably expect, the greater the symptoms and impact C. Difficile has had on your life, the more compensation you are likely to be entitled to.

    With all personal injury claims, compensation is split into two separate areas: general damages and special damages.

    • General damages are awarded for the pain and suffering caused by the injury or illness and are based on the Judicial College guidelines.
    • Special damages are awarded for the financial losses linked to the injury or illness based on evidence such as receipts, wage slips and bank statements.

    Can I make a no win no fee C. Difficile claim?

    All of the medical negligence solicitors we work in partnership with provide their services on a no win no fee basis, which is also known as a conditional fee agreement.

    This means you have absolutely nothing to pay if your solicitor does not win your C. Difficile claim. With no win no fee there are also no upfront costs, so you can start a claim without worrying about legal fees.

    You will only pay a fee to your solicitor if your C. Difficile compensation claim is successful. This success fee will be discussed with you before taking on your case, and will not be any more than 25% of the awarded compensation.

    Start your C. Diff claim today!

    C. Diff infections can be extremely challenging and cause you a lot of stress and anxiety. The infection can be life-threatening if left untreated, especially in the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.

    If you have suffered from C. Difficile infection through no fault of your own, a personal injury solicitor can help you get the much-needed compensation you deserve to put you on the road to recovery.

    As mentioned above, the medical negligence specialists we work with provide a no win no service, so you have nothing to lose. There are no upfront costs to worry about and nothing to pay if your claim is unsuccessful.

    To find out if you can make a C. Diff compensation claim, call 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation. Alternatively, enter your details into the contact form below, and a friendly legal adviser will get back to you shortly.