Pressure sore
compensation claims

If a pressure sore injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

Pressure sores, also known as bedsores, are a serious and painful condition that can occur when an individual is confined to a bed or wheelchair for an extended period of time. In hospitals, care homes and other healthcare settings, these sores can sometimes be the result of neglect or poor care.

You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a specialist clinical negligence solicitor.

Up to 5% of hospital patients develop a pressure ulcer, you are not alone

Around 5% people admitted to hospital with a sudden illness will develop a pressure ulcer, with people over 70 being particularly vulnerable (nhsinform.scot).

Patients who have developed pressure sores due to neglect or poor care may be able to make a compensation claim.

If you decide to make a pressure sore claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.

If you need information on pressure sore symptoms and treatment, see: pressure sores (nhs.uk).

Do I have a pressure sore claim?

As a basic rule, you will be eligible to make an injury claim if you were injured:

• within the last 3 years, and;
• another person was to blame, and;
• that person owed you a duty of care.

Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.

How much compensation can I claim for a pressure sore?

The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:

• the seriousness of your injury, and
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

Special damages are awarded to compensate you for any costs or losses you've incurred or might incur as a result of your accident. These costs might include loss of earnings (including future anticipated earnings loss), retraining costs, career trajectory impact, or any other out of pocket expenses.

Special damages may also be awarded for medical treatments or procedures that you might need to treat your pressure sore, including cleaning the wound, antibiotics, dressing the wound and pressure relief.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Who is legally responsible for my pressure sore?

Pressure sores typically develop as a result of pressure on one part of the body for an extended period of time. Also referred to as ulcers or bed sores, they can develop into very serious and painful wounds, vulnerable to infection.

The pain and inflammation from these sores can restrict the ability to walk or move and often take a long time to heal.

A duty to identify at-risk patients and residents

Medical professionals and auxiliary staff in hospitals, and other care facilities, have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of individuals in their care. All individuals admitted to a hospital or nursing home should be assessed on admission for their risk of developing pressure sores.

The Waterlow Score is a protocol commonly used by medical staff to identify at-risk patients. A failure to follow the protocol may be evidence in support of a medical negligence claim.

The risk of developing pressure sores is known to be higher for individuals who are elderly, unwell, immobile or diabetic. Nursing staff should regularly monitor individuals to prevent pressure sores developing or deteriorating, and should:

• Provide appropriate bed mattresses, such as air filled mattresses
• Apply pressure dressings where needed
• Regularly assess skin health
• Maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness
• Move and roll individuals regularly to alleviate pressure on bones and skin
• Provide appropriate medication, foods and nutrients to support the healing process

If these, or similar measures were not carried out, you may have grounds to make a hospital neglect compensation claim. To be successful, it must be proven that failures in maintaining appropriate standards of treatment and care caused, or worsened, your pressure sore injury.

The hospital or nursing home responsible for negligent care and treatment can be held liable for the injury caused.

Clinical negligence claims

Pressure sore injuries are usually categorised as clinical negligence. Click on the icon below for more information.

Medical negligence Other accidents

Citations

Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.