Asthma charity, Asthma and Lung UK, has told the BBC this week that urgent Government action is needed to stop preventable asthma deaths in the UK. Failures to make necessary changes Around 5.4 million people in the UK have asthma, which is a lung condition that can cause breathing difficulties. Asthma and Lung UK pointed to statistics that show that more than 12,000 people have died in the UK from asthma attacks since 2014. The charity said the figures meant that “shockingly little” had changed since a major report was released a decade ago which found that two thirds of asthma deaths could h ..read more

The BBC has recently reported that Burton Park Hospital, in Melton Mowbray, which has failed every inspection since it opened in 2014, has now been rated as “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Burton Park Hospital Burton Park Hospital is a 50-bedded, neuro-rehabilitation service. The hospital predominantly provides care and treatment for patients with acquired or traumatic brain injuries, including stroke. The service also offers continuing care for people who have progressive neurological conditions, such as Huntington’s disease and early onset dementia. CQC findings CQC inspec ..read more

The Health and Safety Executive has published a press release following a company being fined £800,000 after two young workers tragically lost fingers in incidents at two different Nottingham bakeries. Pork Farms Ltd, which specialises in making pork pies and other savoury goods such as quiches at several sites across England, was given the fine after both workers were injured just weeks apart at the end of 2022. The first accident took place on the 16th November when a 22-year-old worker had his hand trapped while trying to clear a blockage on a conveyor at the firm’s Tottle Bakery on Dunsil ..read more

What is a spinal cord injury? A spinal cord injury is severe damage to the tight group of cells and nerve roots in the spine that send and receive signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body. The spine is divided into sections – cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral. The level of injury can impact the outcome and abilities post-injury and recovery. An injury can be caused by a direct impact on the spinal cord itself or by damage to the tissue and bones (vertebrae) surrounding the spinal cord column. Injury may arise as a result of: An infection to the bone (osteomyelitis) An infe ..read more

In the complex landscape of healthcare, errors and mistakes can unfortunately occur, leading to adverse consequences for patients. When these errors are due to negligence on the part of healthcare professionals, a claim for medical negligence may be pursued. Medical negligence claims are legal actions brought by patients who have suffered harm due to substandard medical care. In such cases, the role of medical experts is pivotal in the assessment of the prospects of success in negligence claims. This article delves into the significant role medical experts fulfil in medical negligence claims ..read more

Coroners in England and Wales play a crucial role in investigating deaths that occur under specific circumstances. Beyond determining the cause of death, in certain cases, the coroner has a duty to provide a report called a Report to Prevent Future Deaths.  These are also called PFD reports or Regulation 28 reports. The coroner’s aim in writing such a report is to prevent future fatalities by identifying systemic issues and requiring those with the “power to take such action” to do so to avoid future deaths.  Such reports are written with the intention of improving “public health, we ..read more

The BBC has reported this week that Coroners in England and Wales sent 109 warnings to health bodies and the Government in 2023 highlighting long NHS waits, staff shortages, or a lack of NHS resources. The number of cases linked to NHS pressures was the highest in the last six years. What is the role of a Coroner? Coroners investigate all deaths where the cause is unknown, where there is reason to think the death may not be due to natural causes, or which need an inquiry for some other reason. What do the findings show? The BBC considered hundreds of Prevention of Future Deaths report written ..read more

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has set out a ten-point roadmap to tackle rising insurance costs. One of these points of action, once again, targets victims of road traffic accidents and the other, if successful, would have a significant impact on all personal injury claimants. Whiplash reforms Point 7 of the ABI’s road map is to continue whiplash reform. In 2021, the Official Injury Claims portal was created, designed to be used by litigants in person and imposing a tariff system of compensation for soft-tissue injuries. Claimants were left without legal representation and burdened ..read more

The Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse is an organisation founded in 2017 which seeks to improve understanding of and the response to child sexual abuse. Its research shows that far more children are being sexually abused than are currently coming to the attention of professionals. Statistics from the CSA Centre estimate that half a million children in England and Wales are being sexually abused each year, yet only 2,700 children are on a child protection plan specifically for child sexual abuse and only 103,000 child sexual abuse offences were recorded in England and Wales. Its latest ..read more

If you have been the victim of a violent act, including domestic and/or sexual violence you may be able to make a claim under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is a Government funded scheme designed to compensate blameless victims of violent crime in Great Britain. The value of the payments awarded is calculated by reference to a tariff for injuries. The Scheme is operated by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). However, victims need to be aware of the strict time limits imposed by the Scheme, and here at Nelsons, it has been o ..read more