Over Easter, a study by the British Medical Journal found a  'shock' link between use of the contraceptive injection and brain tumours. The injection, a progestogen contraceptive used by around 380,000 women in the UK, has been associated with a 5.6 times higher likelihood of developing meningioma (a type of tumour affecting the brain and spinal cord membranes) after a year or more of use ..read more

Language barriers that adversely affect healthcare provision is an enduring problem that can lead to serious harm for patients. In the Kingsley Napley Clinical Negligence Team we are acutely aware of this ongoing issue, acting as we do for claimants who have not received proper care as a result of not speaking fluent English ..read more

This article was initially published in the Law Society Gazette on 1st April 2024 No-fault NHS compensation system: Equality but not equity The recent Times Health Commission Report with ‘10 recommendations to save the NHS’ contains many sensible proposals, but the idea of introducing a no-blame compensation scheme for medical errors is misguided and would disbenefit as many as it helps.  This proposal reportedly has the backing of chancellor Jeremy Hunt and health secretary Victoria Atkins, to reduce spiralling NHS negligence bills and help the NHS learn from mistakes 'rather than gettin ..read more

It is great news that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and NHS England have both committed to implement Martha’s Rule in England, having already expressed my support for the move ..read more

The harrowing experience of seeing a family member in pain and distress is something that no person wishes to experience. But the added complexity of knowing that this experience could have been avoided, further doubles the anguish that families experience when their loved one has been provided with negligent treatment or advice ..read more

Sodium valproate (brand names include Epilim and Depakote) is a drug to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraines which, if taken in pregnancy, is associated with a significant risk of birth defects and developmental disorders often known as Fetal Valproate Syndrome (FVS).  ..read more

The news emerging this week that frozen eggs and embryos may have been damaged by a faulty freezing solution, and that there has been an apparent delay in informing some patients about this, is deeply concerning. Understandably, the consequences for those involved, whose chances of having a baby are at stake, could be highly damaging. The emotional anguish cannot be understated ..read more

I recently settled a claim for a client who had ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Our client developed a serious spinal cord injury following a relatively minor fall in his garden ..read more

As the evidence of failing maternity services appears to be mounting, the Government is now pledging to prioritise improvements to maternity care as part of it’s womens health strategy  for 2024.   ..read more

This week is cervical cancer prevention week, which comes close on the heels of an NHS pledge to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.   ..read more