News and Knowledge

Wrong use of inhalers placing asthma suffers at risk

Research by charity, Asthma + Lung UK[1], has found that as many as one in five people with Asthma may be unknowingly using the wrong inhaler.   There are two types of inhaler: A reliever inhaler, which reduces symptoms, and: A preventer inhaler, which should be used on a daily basis to keep down inflammation and swelling in…

Sepsis: Cwm Taf Morgannwg failures ‘led to woman’s death’

The Ombudsman has found that Princess of Wales Hospital failed to diagnose a patient (Mrs F) with appendicitis twice, leading to the appendix rupturing and Mrs F sadly contracting sepsis and passing away the following month.   During investigations, Ms F attended the hospitals emergency department on 17 July 2020 and was discharged negligently without…

Empowerment Care Ltd Failures

Empowerment Care Ltd, based in Cannock, has been rated as “requires improvement” after its first Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection.   This rating is the second-lowest possible rating. The CQC on inspection noticed many failures including the following: A patient who needed two doses of medication a day was given three doses for 24 days.…

Findings of inadequate care – Further maternity failings in the NHS

Mothers are left distraught after significant findings of inadequate care resulting in injuries and  numerous stillbirths at Nottingham University Hospital Trust.   The Trust has now been issued a safety warning. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have informed the trust they must make “immediate improvements” to maternity services, specifically referencing Nottingham City Hospital and Queen’s…

Manor Farm Medical Centre – Recent CQC report finds this healthcare provider to be “Inadequate”

A GP practice in West Norfolk has been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and placed in special measures following an inspection in March.   The inspection also contributed to CQC’s wider review of emergency care in the surrounding areas.     The ratings following the CQC inspection were inadequate overall and are…

Fungal infections kill more people that breast cancer

It has been reported that there are more than 150 million cases of severe fungal infections worldwide with over one and a half million deaths.   The reasons that fungal infections are not considered at the outset is because they are commonly are a complication of another condition, in particular persons with immunosuppressive conditions. The…

Rugby player Kris Kirk and Testicular Cancer

Recently, rugby player Kris Kirk discovered that he had testicular cancer at 23 years old, after a discussion with a colleague who had booked to have a suspicious lump on his testicle examined by his GP.   This prompted Kris to perform an examination himself and he found a ‘hard lump’. His colleague’s diagnosis was…

Increasing ambulance waiting times are endangering patient safety

The BBC has recently reported that patients are suffering serious safety impacts due to increasing ambulance waiting times.   Analysis has found that there has been a 77% rise in the most serious safety incidents logged by paramedics in England’s over the past year compared to before the pandemic. These reports are produced where the…

Oakwood Solicitors successfully represents Haydon Croucher Medical Negligence case

Oakwood Solicitors has, through will and determination, secured settlement for Tracey Furness in this very sad and distressing claim.   Tracey’s son, Haydon Croucher, committed suicide in November 2019 and the Hospital Trust has confirmed that her son would not have died had they not been negligent.   The Trust have admitted failings in the…

Potential Clinical Negligence legal reforms

An MP Committee is currently calling for the legal system in which clinical negligence actions are pursued to be reformed.   The main three changes they are advocating for are: Instead of pursuing a clinical negligence action by way of litigation, an independent administrative body (or ‘no fault’ system) should be formed to investigate cases…