Negligence in A&E
Medical negligence in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments can have severe consequences.
These are some examples of medical negligence that may occur in A&E departments:
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
A&E staff may misdiagnose a patient's condition or fail to diagnose it promptly, leading to delayed treatment or inappropriate care. For example:
- Misdiagnosing a heart attack as indigestion.
- Failing to recognise the signs of a condition, such as appendicitis or a stroke, leading to delayed diagnosis.
- Misinterpreting X-rays, leading to missed fractures or other injuries. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT MISSED FRACTURES
- Failing to diagnose cauda equina syndrome. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT CES
Failure to Provide Timely Treatment
In some cases, medical negligence may occur due to delays in providing essential treatment to patients. Examples include:
- Delayed administration of pain relief to a patient in severe pain.
- Failure to promptly stabilise a patient with life-threatening injuries or conditions.
- Delayed referral to specialist services for further evaluation and treatment.
Medication Errors
Errors in medication administration or prescription can occur in A&E departments, leading to adverse effects or worsening of the patient's condition. Examples include:
- Administering the wrong medication or dosage to a patient.
- Failing to check for allergies or contraindications before administering medication.
- Prescribing medications that interact negatively with other drugs the patient is taking.
Inadequate Monitoring
Patients in A&E may require close monitoring of their vital signs or condition. Negligence may occur if staff fail to monitor patients adequately, leading to complications or deterioration. Examples include:
- Failing to monitor a patient's oxygen levels after administering oxygen therapy.
- Neglecting to monitor a patient's vital signs after administering anaesthesia.
- Inadequate observation of a patient with a head injury, leading to missed signs of deterioration.
Lack of Communication or Handover Errors
This is commonly a reason for mistakes happening. Poor communication among healthcare providers or inadequate handovers between shifts can and often does contribute to medical negligence in A&E. Examples include:
- Failing to communicate critical information about a patient's condition during handover.
- Miscommunication leading to incorrect treatment decisions or delays in care.
- Inadequate documentation of patient assessments or interventions, leading to errors in subsequent care.
.webp)
Contact Us Today
If you have concerns about the care that you or a loved one received in A&E, call our specialist team of medical negligence lawyers.
Client Stories
Slip and Trip - A & E delaying treatment leaves Mrs N in chronic pain
A&E negligence resulting in chronic pain for a woman after fracturing her foot due to a slip and trip incident.
Slip and Trip - A & E delaying treatment leaves Mrs N in chronic pain
On the evening of 11 March 2021, Mrs N slipped and fell outside on her decking at home. She immediately experienced pain in her left foot and ankle. As she was unable to move and was in a lot of pain, she called 111 who sent an ambulance. The paramedics advised her to attend the A&E department at St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight for an X-ray.
Mrs N underwent an x-ray of her left foot and ankle and was informed that her there was no evidence of any fractures. She was discharged on the same day with crutches and advised to take painkillers with no advice of what to do if her symptoms worsened or a follow up appointment. She experienced severe pain after going home. The following day her left foot started to bruise and turn purple. Her foot was swollen, and she could not walk on it or weight bear.
Within the next 2 weeks her foot had turned completely black. She was unable to tolerate putting socks on and was unable to weight bear on that foot at all. Mrs N contacted her GP due to her ongoing symptoms and on 9 April 2021 her GP had telephoned her after reviewing the x-ray taken at St Mary’s Hospital and confirmed that navicular bone (a bone in the midfoot) was fractured and that she should go back to the A&E department ASAP.
Mrs N was referred to the Urgent Care Centre on the same day. The plan was to provide her with a walking shoe and for her to be reviewed in the fracture clinic. However, she was not given a walking shoe until a week later.
On 12 April 2021 Mrs N had an out-patient appointment at the fracture clinic and was provided with a walker boot. She felt that the treating doctor was very dismissive of her symptoms and the fact that she still required crutches to walk.
Over the following few months Mrs N continued to experience pain and restriction in mobility and activities of daily living as she continued to rely upon crutches and the walker boot. She went on to receive physiotherapy for two months and was informed that the injury would take a long time to heal.
For a year following the incident Mrs N was unable to walk long distances due to ongoing pain in her ankle and foot. Her day-to-day activities were also restricted as she needed to spend time elevating her foot. Mrs N still experiences a painful foot, with symptoms worse in the winter and she has been left with a lump on the left side of her foot which has been present since her injury.
Moosa Duke Solicitors are an experienced team of specialist clinical negligence solicitors and specialise in cases involving orthopaedic care. Please call us for a no-obligation discussion on 01162547456 or email us at enquiries@moosaduke.com.
.webp)
Our Approach
We will support you, guide you and be your voice throughout.
Disclaimer
1. Complexity
All Medical negligence claims can be complex and require experienced medical negligence lawyers. This will help ensure that your claim is expertly investigated by lawyers with a proven track record of success.
2. Independent
Independent medical evidence will be required to establish liability.
3. General Information
The medical and legal information on this website is for illustrative purposes only. It is not medical or legal advice. Every circumstance is different. You must obtain medical and legal advice specific to your circumstances.
If you are concerned about the medical treatment that you or a loved one has received, please contact us and one of our specialist team will assist you.
