A top clinical negligence lawyer is warning thousands of lives are being put at risk, after the Government announced this week they are still up to ten years away from finding a vaccine for the hospital super-bug MRSA.
In his annual report, the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, highlighted the work being done to develop new vaccines for a number of diseases, including MRSA, as well as C Difficile, Influenza and Type 1 Diabetes.
He explained it could be possible to find a vaccine for MRSA within ten years and one for C Difficile within three, which is too long to wait according to clinical negligence solicitor Louise Griffiths, who acts on behalf of claimants or their families.
Louise, a partner at law firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP, regularly handles claims from patients who believe they have contracted a hospital-acquired infection, and specialises in cases involving MRSA and C Difficile. She says: “Although it is a positive step in the right direction to finding a remedy for the multiplying MRSA problem, another ten years before we find a vaccine could result in potentially hundreds or thousands more deaths from the infection. It’s ten years too long for those at most risk of acquiring MRSA.
“There is a much greater awareness of the infection now, and after actress Lesley Ash’s £5 million payout earlier this year after she contracted a similar bacteria MSSA, this has undoubtedly encouraged more people to take action if they fear they or a family member has contracted the disease while in hospital, putting another strain – a financial one - on the NHS.”
MRSA is a normally harmless bacteria which lives on the skin of approximately a third of the population, and is generally passed on by hospital staff to those undergoing surgery or with open wounds. Being so widespread, it’s extremely difficult to prove a patient contracted their illness while in hospital, unless they are swabbed on arrival.
Louise added: “Hospital-acquired infection cases are extremely complex, in that it has to be proved that the patient contracted the bug during their hospital visit and had not been carrying it prior to this. However our firm has extensive experience in successfully proving negligence by NHS trusts and securing compensation for our clients.”
Stephensons is able to offer a range of funding methods to those who wish to pursue a claim, including access to legal aid funding or conditional fee arrangements.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Louise Griffiths is acknowledged as a leader in the field of clinical negligence, for claimants, according to The Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession, 2009 and is recommended in the Legal 500.
- Stephensons’ clinical negligence department specialises in recovering compensation for victims of medical accidents. The firm focuses on ‘whole life’ solutions, seeking results and offering practical support that will help people adapt to what can be a dramatically altered lifestyle.
Media information: Lianne Tracey
Stephensons Solicitors LLP
Tel: 01616 966 229
Email: lct@stephensons.co.uk