Suing Hospital/Surgeon

j.e.j.

See if you can find the procedure for making a formal complaint in writing (details should be on the hospital's website). I think this carries more weight than complaining verbally to someone in hospital, which they could just ignore.

good luck whatever you decide.

brook2jack

You need to complain in writing. Speak to pals about the proceedure for a formal complaint. It's just that you posted your solicitor said not to notify hospital until reversal of stoma.

If you want to speak to someone , have explanations etc you need to complain in writing. Unfortunately just saying something to someone will get you an apology from that person but to start the ball rolling for the sort of explanations and changes you want you need to write in.

Look in phone book for pals number for your area and phone them to talk you through the complaints process. They will assist in complaints process which may give you resolution quicker than any other process but doesn't rule out litigation.

Put your post code in here for your pcts details and details of their PALS service to guide you through a complaint. http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/ServiceSearchAdditional.aspx?SearchType=PCT&ServiceType=Trust

dramaqueen1973

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FBaby

Justto say that a formal complaint will lead to a formal investigation which will take weeks to conduct properly so any appropriate apologies might not be for some time.

Brighton_belle

I've got a feeling that you won't get an apology now, as that, from an insurance point of view might be seen as admitting liabilty. A bit like if you shunt someones car, you are not allowed to admit it was your fault to the driver of the other car, as per your insurance policy. It's the insurere who decide who was at fault.

I've seen a number of interviews over the years where poeple who suffered various levels of negligence ended up sueing the hosp for years until they won, and nearly all of them said it would never have got this far if they had had a decent and sincere apology in the first place.

brook2jack

I think you are mistaken here. The medical insurers positively encourage people to apologise as it is often want people want most and ends up costing a shed load less than litigation even if the defendant is sucessful.

To give you an idea a recent case netted the complainant £15,000 and their lawyer £135,000 in fees plus defence costs and cost of days off work for hearings.

For this reason hospitals etc are very keen to make complaints as easy and satisfactory as possible dealt with in house avoiding lawyers.

lilymay1

brook2jack wrote: »

I think you are mistaken here. The medical insurers positively encourage people to apologise as it is often want people want most and ends up costing a shed load less than litigation even if the defendant is sucessful.

Hospitals will always apologise for the pain/suffering/distress that you have suffered, but they will never admit they were the ones who caused it.

mazza111

Not really got any advice, just wanted to wish you luck DQ. It may take a while to get back to normal but you will get there hon.



Brighton belle!!!! Long time no see :j:j

meritaten

Brighton_belle wrote: »

I've got a feeling that you won't get an apology now, as that, from an insurance point of view might be seen as admitting liabilty. A bit like if you shunt someones car, you are not allowed to admit it was your fault to the driver of the other car, as per your insurance policy. It's the insurere who decide who was at fault.

I've seen a number of interviews over the years where poeple who suffered various levels of negligence ended up sueing the hosp for years until they won, and nearly all of them said it would never have got this far if they had had a decent and sincere apology in the first place.

not always true - my OH and I were involved in an accident where a KA came out of a junction and we slammed into the side of it - totally the KA drivers fault and she admitted that. her insurers paid up (our car was a write off and we were lucky we were not injured). No fuss whatsoever. all done and dusted within a couple of months!

Brighton_belle

brook2jack wrote: »

I think you are mistaken here.

meritaten wrote: »

not always true

Very happy to be incorrect, which is why I didn't write categorically.
Meritaten: you are still advised not to admit liabilty at the scene by your insurer. As it turns out, no harm was done to her own case by admitting it as it was such a clear case.

mazza111 wrote: »

Brighton belle!!!! Long time no see :j:j

Mazza!!:wave::wave: Expect a PM to be winging its way:D