Hospital Negligence Claim
The term hospital negligence refers to errors made by a hospital and its staff that result in the illness or injury of a patient. The…
Read moreSepsis compensation claims
If you have suffered from sepsis as a result of medical negligence, contact us today to find out if you can make a sepsis compensation claim.
We are a claims management company regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Sepsis is a serious medical condition that occurs when the body’s immune system has an exaggerated reaction to an infection. This results in an inflammatory response throughout the body, which can have devastating consequences for a patient’s health. In the most severe cases, it can even be fatal.
Sepsis can be triggered by infections in any part of the body, including the lungs, urinary tract, and skin. Medical professionals are expected to recognise the signs of sepsis and treat it efficiently before it progresses to septic shock. Failure to do so that results in harm or injury to the patient would entitle them to pursue a sepsis compensation claim.
If you or a loved one suffered due to substandard medical care and you want to make a claim, call 0800 470 0474 or enter your details here for a free case assessment.
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.
You can find out within minutes if you are eligible to make a claim and how much compensation you could receive through a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer. To have a valid medical negligence case, they will have to be able to prove the following:
It comes as a given that all healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurses, owe patients a duty of care. This is a legal obligation to deliver care that meets the acceptable standards of practice established by bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Next, your lawyer must establish that your healthcare provider has failed to meet the standard of care expected of them. This means their actions or omissions fell below the accepted standard, which could mean they:
To have a valid claim, it is not enough to prove a breach of duty. You must also be able to show that there is a direct link between it and the harm you suffered. This means proving that the negligence directly caused or worsened the sepsis and the resulting complication. You do not have a valid case if you cannot do this.
Finally, you must be able to prove the harm you suffered due to the medical mistakes, which could include physical, emotional and financial losses, such as:
You will need various types of evidence to prove these elements, such as medical records, expert testimony, receipts and payslips. Below, you can read more about making a claim for sepsis and the compensation you could receive.
Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning or septicaemia, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the immune system has an exaggerated response to an infection. Normally, the body responds to infections at the site of injury, which can lead to pain, redness, swelling and warmth in the affected area. The response is localised and appropriate to the level of threat.
When sepsis occurs, the immune response is dysregulated and affects the entire body. This leads to widespread inflammation that can cause blood clotting and damage to tissues and organs. If not treated properly, sepsis can progress to septic shock, which is characterised by dangerously low blood pressure and severe organ damage and can lead to death in as little as 12 hours.
According to the UK Sepsis Trust, 245,000 people are affected by the condition each year in the UK, leading to 48,000 deaths. Globally, there are 11,000,000 deaths caused by sepsis each year, making it more deadly than cancer. Sadly, many of these deaths could be prevented through a timely diagnosis of sepsis and adequate treatment.
Sepsis can affect various body parts, leading to different symptoms that can vary depending on the severity of the condition. The early signs and symptoms of sepsis often include:
In newborns and young children, sepsis symptoms may be more challenging to recognise and could include:
If not treated at an early stage, sepsis can quickly worsen and eventually advance to septic shock. You should call 999 or go to the A&E immediately if you or a loved one have the following symptoms:
Septic shock, the life-threatening stage of sepsis, can lead to severe complications such as stroke, respiratory distress and multiple organ failure.
Sepsis occurs when the body’s immune system has an exaggerated reaction to an infection and leads to widespread inflammation, which could cause severe organ damage and death.
The leading cause of sepsis is bacterial infections, but it can also be due to fungal and viral infections. The most common ones include:
If you believe you may have an infection, you should see your GP or the hospital as soon as possible. Early treatment is essential to ensure a timely recovery and prevent complications such as sepsis.
Sepsis can affect anyone, but people who have a bacterial infection and the risk factors mentioned below are more likely to get it:
While anyone can develop sepsis, recognising these risk factors is critical for early intervention and prevention. If a high-risk individual shows signs of infection or worsening symptoms, immediate medical attention is essential.
If you experience any warning symptoms, such as a fever, rapid heartbeat or chills, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible, especially if you have any of the risk factors mentioned above.
If your doctor suspects sepsis, they will carry out several tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as:
If sepsis is confirmed, most patients will be admitted to the hospital for close monitoring. Treatment needs to begin immediately and could involve:
After recovery from sepsis, you may also need physical therapy to regain strength and mobility or psychological support to address symptoms such as anxiety or depression. In severe cases, you may require long-term care and regular follow-ups.
Sepsis is a medical emergency that could cause various complications, even if treatment starts right away. These include:
Most people will make a full recovery from sepsis, but this could take months or even years. Some long-term issues that it could cause include:
The consequences of sepsis can also affect your relationships and can lead to financial strain due to care costs and inability to work. If you have suffered avoidable harm due to a wrong sepsis diagnosis or incorrect treatment, an experienced lawyer could help you claim compensation for your pain and suffering.
Making a successful claim for a missed sepsis diagnosis or inadequate treatment involves several key steps:
To start your claim, call 0800 470 0474 today for your free case assessment or request a callback.
To support your claim, you must gather compelling evidence showing how the healthcare provider breached their duty of care and how this directly caused harm. Examples include:
Some valid reasons to pursue compensation for sepsis and septic shock include:
As you can see, many instances of substandard care could lead to avoidable sepsis injuries and a subsequent claim. If your situation was not listed here, it does not mean you are not entitled to claim, as this list is not exhaustive.
The NHS specialists and medical staff must follow strict procedures for diagnosing and treating sepsis. Under the NICE guidelines, they must treat septicaemia with the same urgency as a stroke or heart attack and follow the Sepsis Six protocol, which reduces sepsis mortality significantly. The Sepsis Six refers to three tests and treatments that should be instituted within one hour of arriving at the hospital:
If you sought medical care through the NHS and the care you received was substandard and resulted in harm, you are within your rights to make an NHS negligence claim.
NHS Resolution will handle your claim, which is a government-backed organisation financed through annual premiums paid by each NHS Trust. This means that if you win compensation, it will not affect the funds allotted for patient care or salaries.
Furthermore, your legal case could help highlight important issues and prevent similar occurrences from happening again.
If someone close to you has suffered as a result of sepsis negligence but cannot handle a legal case, you may be able to represent them as a litigation friend. This process is typically used when the claimant is either a child under 18 or a protected party under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
To claim for them, you must first apply to be named as their litigation friend. A solicitor can help you with this process, which involves proving that:
Once approved, you will have several duties as a litigation friend, which include:
If you make a successful clinical negligence claim, a judge must assess the awarded settlement based on the evidence to determine whether it is fair. If approved, your solicitor can help you set up a personal injury trust to manage the funds on their behalf and ensure it does not impact their eligibility for means-tested state benefits.
Sadly, sepsis kills 48,000 people each year in the UK, which means that every hour, five people lose their lives due to this condition. While most of these fatalities cannot be prevented, some are due to clinical negligence, such as a late diagnosis or incorrect treatment.
If your loved one has suffered a wrongful death, you may be able to claim compensation under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. The Act allows anyone who classifies as a dependant of the deceased to start a claim, including:
As a dependent, you could claim the following if you lost a loved one due to sepsis negligence:
The Limitation Act 1980 imposes a three-year time limit to make a sepsis claim, starting from:
While three years seems like plenty of time, and you might be undecided about pursuing a claim, we strongly suggest that you seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Evidence such as witness statements and medical records may degrade or become harder to access over time. Also, if your case has merit, this will ensure you will receive timely financial support to ease the burden of lost wages, medical bills and other costs.
There are a few exceptions to the three-year time limit:
The amount of compensation you could receive if you’ve been affected by sepsis will be calculated based on your specific circumstances. Some determining factors include the degree of negligence, the severity of your condition and its impact on your life. In a sepsis medical negligence claim, compensation is typically divided into two types of damages:
General damages compensate for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the sepsis. The amount awarded for general damages depends on the severity of the illness, the duration of suffering, and whether it has caused long-term or permanent damage and includes:
Special damages cover the financial losses and expenses resulting from the negligence, such as:
According to our online compensation calculator and the guidelines from the Judicial College, you could receive:
It is difficult to say from the beginning how long a sepsis negligence compensation claim will take to resolve. It can take anywhere between a few months to more than two years to reach a settlement, depending on factors such as:
Your solicitor will always aim to settle your case in the shortest time possible. If the defendant has admitted liability or you have compelling evidence that will ensure you would win in court, they can also secure interim payments for you. These are parts of the final compensation advanced to you during the litigation process to help you cover pressing financial needs such as medical bills and the cost of living.
If you are able to make a sepsis negligence claim, the solicitors we partner with will happily offer you a 100% no win no fee service. This is the preferred way of funding a personal injury claim because:
For further protection against financial losses, you can also opt for After the Event (ATE) insurance. This policy can be taken out after a legal dispute arises to cover the costs of the claim if your case is unsuccessful. These include court fees, medical reports, expert witnesses and the opponent’s expenses. The ATE is also self-insuring, meaning that you only pay the cost of the premium if you win compensation.
While there is no legal obligation to have a lawyer work on your case, hiring legal representation can make the claims process much easier while improving your chances of success. If you have a valid claim, your solicitor will:
If you want to start your claim today or learn more about how much compensation you could be entitled to, call 0800 470 0474 or enter your details to request a call back.