Hospital Infections - A&E Negligence

Hospital Infections – A&E Negligence

Hospitals are places that we go to when we are ill or injured. Due to the very nature of them, it is likely that some people being treated there will be suffering from an infectious disease, and so they are isolated carefully so that others are not infected, including the staff who treat them. Isolation wards and thorough protection and cleaning procedures can reduce the risk of infectious diseases being spread around the hospital. However, these are not the only sources of infection within hospitals.

The MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) bug is a bacterium that can cause infections within different parts of the body. It is more difficult to treat than many bacteria because it is resistant to some commonly used antibiotics. It lives on the skin of around 1 in 30 people without causing any harm and can cross over to other people’s skin through touching someone who has it, sharing towels, sheets or clothes with someone who carries it, or by touching surfaces that have the bacteria upon them. MRSA is particularly dangerous within hospitals due to the number of people there who are likely to have a route for the bacteria to enter the body, such as through an open wound, a catheter, a drip or even a feeding tube. Hospital patients are likely to have a reduced immune system due to other health problems and are in close contact with a large number of people, so the bacteria can spread widely.

While it rarely causes death, the MRSA bug can lead to a range of issues including pain, swelling, dizziness and confusion, and can, in some cases take many years to be treated completely. Take for example the actress Leslie Ash, who was struck down by the bug in 2004 whilst in hospital during treatment for a broken rib. She was left with permanent spinal injuries and was awarded £5 million in compensation from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.

MRSA is just one of several different types of infection that can develop within hospital. Others such as C-Diff (Clostridium Difficile) and E. Coli (Escherichia Coli) are relatively well-known, whereas Cryptococcus (a yeast-like fungal infection carried in pigeon and other bird droppings) and Mucor (an infection caused by breathing in spores from rotting organic matter) are less familiar.

If you or someone you care for has suffered from an infection that was brought on as a result of hospital care, it is likely that you will be eligible to make a claim for compensation. Thorough cleaning procedures and staff training, as well as education of patients and visitors can reduce the risk of these infections spreading, and if these procedures are not suitably robust, then it is the fault of the hospital if patients become ill. Contact one of our highly experienced and friendly solicitors today, and let us help you and your family get the compensation that you deserve.