If a pressure sore injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward
Pressure sores, also known as bedsores, are a serious and painful condition that can occur when an individual is confined to a bed or wheelchair for an extended period of time. In hospitals, care homes and other healthcare settings, these sores can sometimes be the result of neglect or poor care.
You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a specialist clinical negligence solicitor.
Up to 5% of hospital patients develop a pressure ulcer, you are not alone
Around 5% people admitted to hospital with a sudden illness will develop a pressure ulcer, with people over 70 being particularly vulnerable (nhsinform.scot).
Patients who have developed pressure sores due to neglect or poor care may be able to make a compensation claim.
If you decide to make a pressure sore claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.
If you need information on pressure sore symptoms and treatment, see: pressure sores (nhs.uk).
How much compensation can I claim for a pressure sore?
Your compensation for a pressure sore depends on:
- how significant your injury is,
- the ways in which your injury affects your daily activities and job,
- any financial impacts or losses resulting from your injury.
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General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Special damages are awarded to compensate you for any costs or losses you've incurred or might incur as a result of your accident. These costs might include loss of earnings (including future anticipated earnings loss), retraining costs, career trajectory impact, or any other out of pocket expenses.
Special damages may also be awarded for medical treatments or procedures that you might need to treat your pressure sore, including cleaning the wound, antibiotics, dressing the wound and pressure relief.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Average pressure sore compensation payouts
The following pressure sore payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Dermatitis
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term dermatitis | Affecting hands or other parts of the body (other than your face and scalp), where symptoms resolve with treatment, or short term aggravation of an existing condition | £1,890 to £4,380 |
| Longer-term dermatitis | Affecting hands or other parts of the body (other than your face and scalp), where symptoms take several months or years to resolve with treatment | £9,590 to £12,660 |
| Dermatitis lasting years or indefinitely | Symptoms that last indefinitely, and that affect your daily life and ability to work | £15,250 to £21,300 |
Non-facial body scars
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Burns with scarring and ongoing pain | £2,630 to £8,690 |
| Moderate | Scarring such as an exploratory laparotomy scar | Around £9,590 |
| Serious | A noticeable laceration scar or single disfiguring scar | £8,690 to £25,220 |
| Severe | Severe burns with continuing pain and psychological injury | Up to £116,300 |
Do I have a pressure sore claim?
Yes, you can start a compensation claim for a pressure sore, if:
- you were injured in the last 3 years, and;
- another person was to blame, and;
- that person owed you a legal duty of care.
Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.
Who is legally responsible for my pressure sore?
Pressure sores typically develop as a result of pressure on one part of the body for an extended period of time. Also referred to as ulcers or bed sores, they can develop into very serious and painful wounds, vulnerable to infection.
The pain and inflammation from these sores can restrict the ability to walk or move and often take a long time to heal.
A duty to identify at-risk patients and residents
Medical professionals and auxiliary staff in hospitals, and other care facilities, have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of individuals in their care. All individuals admitted to a hospital or nursing home should be assessed on admission for their risk of developing pressure sores.
The Waterlow Score is a protocol commonly used by medical staff to identify at-risk patients. A failure to follow the protocol may be evidence in support of a medical negligence claim.
The risk of developing pressure sores is known to be higher for individuals who are elderly, unwell, immobile or diabetic. Nursing staff should regularly monitor individuals to prevent pressure sores developing or deteriorating, and should:
- Provide appropriate bed mattresses, such as air filled mattresses
- Apply pressure dressings where needed
- Regularly assess skin health
- Maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness
- Move and roll individuals regularly to alleviate pressure on bones and skin
- Provide appropriate medication, foods and nutrients to support the healing process
If these, or similar measures were not carried out, you may have grounds to make a hospital neglect compensation claim. To be successful, it must be proven that failures in maintaining appropriate standards of treatment and care caused, or worsened, your pressure sore injury.
The hospital or nursing home responsible for negligent care and treatment can be held liable for the injury caused.
Pressure sore clinical negligence claims
The most common claims for pressure sore are related to clinical negligence. Click the icon below to learn more about the claims process.
Can I make a no win, no fee pressure sore claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim pressure sore compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to an injury specialist about your claim?
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Call 0800 376 1001
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Pressure ulcers - Illnesses & conditions | NHS inform (reviewed: 27/07/2024)
Pressure ulcers (pressure sores) - NHS (reviewed: 27/07/2024)
Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.