A specialist Clinical Negligence solicitor is warning hospital trusts could now face a surge of new claims after Lesley Ash’s record £5 million out-of-court settlement due to contracting MSSA, a bacteria similar to MRSA, whilst a patient at Chelsea and Westminster hospital.
People who contract infections such as MSSA and MRSA are now expected to be more encouraged than ever to make their own claims, after Ms Ash’s settlement set a new record for compensation in a case of hospital-acquired infections.
Louise Griffiths, a Clinical Negligence lawyer at Stephensons Solicitors LLP, says: “This record sum should act as a huge wake up call for hospitals who do not give cleanliness the priority it requires. Undoubtedly, the level of the compensation will have a knock-on effect on the number of new claims for hospital-acquired infections. However, it’s worth noting that the majority of the payout was likely to be for financial losses flowing from the negligence, in this case loss of potential future earnings, rather than for the actual injury.”
Louise Griffiths is Head of Stephensons’ Clinical Negligence department, and regularly handles claims from patients who believe they have contracted a hospital-acquired infection. The firm specialises in cases involving MRSA and C: Difficile.
“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.
“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 Lesley Ash’s case proves a positive outcome is achievable and our firm has extensive experience in successfully proving negligence by NHS trusts and securing compensation for our clients.”
