NHS compensation

fluffymuffy
fluffymuffy Posts: 3,424 Forumite
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edited 26 October 2022 at 11:20PM in Disability money matters
I've lost over a year of my life due to misdiagnosis through negligence on the part of an NHS consultant. This year I've spent over 6 months in bed, and three weeks in two different hospitals. During this time I have had no income and was not able to claim benefits because I didn’t have the support of doctors and was told I was a "time waster" when I was actually critically ill. 

Now I have a diagnosis and am receiving treatment but am unlikely to ever fully recover. My condition should have been treated within 48 hours, not over a year later. I have to travel to a different part of the country for treatment, which involves a couple of nights in a hotel as well as transport costs. I've done this twice already and have at least twice more to come. (Sorry to be vague - my condition is very specific and I prefer to be anonymous).

I have a formal complaint going through my local hospital, which I expect will be upheld. I'm sorry to have to do this while the NHS is on it's knees, but I need to recover my lost income. Has anyone got any advice on how to go about this? I know there are claims companies, but I expect they would add a lot of legal fees. Is this something I can do myself?
I am the Cat who walks alone

Comments

  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 17,718 Forumite
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    There is no legal requirement to have representation if you are capable of self representing... there will always be a big spread of opinions on if saving legal costs means you get a better settlement as everyone is quids in or if you are taken for a ride as you dont know better.

    You do need to be clear on your legal rights and breakdown your losses in a logical way. For example you mention treatment is requiring travelling costs... to the best of my knowledge there is no legal requirements for every treatment to be offered locally.

    You will ultimately need an appropriate medical expert to opine on the likely outcome on if you had received treatment earlier -v- the outcome based on the actual treatment. It will also need to consider how well patients respond to care 
  • Sncjw
    Sncjw Posts: 3,561 Forumite
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    In regards to travelling it sounds like that it's a very specalist condition that only very few know and can treat it. Maybe that's also why it took a while to diagnose. 
    Mortgage free wannabe 

    Actual mortgage stating amount £75,150

    Overpayment paused to pay off cc 

    Starting balance £66,565.45

    Current balance £58,108

    Cc around 8k. 

  • MalMonroe
    MalMonroe Posts: 5,783 Forumite
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    Sncjw said:
    In regards to travelling it sounds like that it's a very specalist condition that only very few know and can treat it. Maybe that's also why it took a while to diagnose. 
    Be that as it may, at the outset the OP - who was seriously ill, had no income yet and was unable to claim benefits because they didn’t have the support of doctors and was told they were a "time waster" when they were actually critically ill. 
    Please note - taken from the Forum Rules and amended for my own personal use (with thanks) : It is up to you to investigate, check, double-check and check yet again before you make any decisions or take any action based on any information you glean from any of my posts. Although I do carry out careful research before posting and never intend to mislead or supply out-of-date or incorrect information, please do not rely 100% on what you are reading. Verify everything in order to protect yourself as you are responsible for any action you consequently take.
  • MalMonroe
    MalMonroe Posts: 5,783 Forumite
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    Hi, I'm so sorry that this happened and hope that the following links are useful.

    In the first instance, before even considering contacting any organisation that will charge you a fortune, you should think about contacting the hospital or hospitals involved - information about how to proceed is in the first three links below -

    https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-complain-to-the-nhs/

    https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/complaint/

    https://resolution.nhs.uk/services/claims-management/advice-for-claimants/

    Sometimes this kind of case can be settled 'in house', so to speak.

    Please don't feel intimidated about contacting the NHS, either, because you haven't done anything wrong. 

    And if it should come to that, there is some information in the following link from Citizens Advice about help with legal costs.

    https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/finding-free-or-affordable-legal-help/

    I do hope that this information is helpful in some way. I understand your reluctance to batter our already impoverished NHS but you do have some rights.

    I wish you all the very best. 
    Please note - taken from the Forum Rules and amended for my own personal use (with thanks) : It is up to you to investigate, check, double-check and check yet again before you make any decisions or take any action based on any information you glean from any of my posts. Although I do carry out careful research before posting and never intend to mislead or supply out-of-date or incorrect information, please do not rely 100% on what you are reading. Verify everything in order to protect yourself as you are responsible for any action you consequently take.
  • fluffymuffy
    fluffymuffy Posts: 3,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    MalMonroe said:

    I do hope that this information is helpful in some way. I understand your reluctance to batter our already impoverished NHS but you do have some rights.

    I wish you all the very best. 

    Thanks very much for this - it's really useful. 
    I am the Cat who walks alone
  • KxMx
    KxMx Posts: 11,026 Forumite
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    The NHS does have insurance for claims, in the event of a payout it will be funded by the insurers. 
  • kaMelo
    kaMelo Posts: 2,822 Forumite
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    No it doesn't, compensation claims are managed by NHS Resolution and funded from taxes.
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