Helping right medical wrongs

If you’re not recovering from illness there may be a reason, says GEORGE NICHOLS

THERE’S been so much on TV over the past week or so about how hospitals are overstretched and underfunded. About how the NHS across the board is struggling in a way that it never has before.

Dedicated staff give their all and yet they are battling against the tide. The NHS departments at the forefront of the problem are A&E units, where staff make life-changing decisions under enormous pressure 24 hours a day,.

Not only do they have to deal with genuine emergencies, in the winter they also face an influx of patients wanting treatment for ailments such as flu.

Under this pressure even the most experienced professional can make a mistake, causing missed diagnoses and other problems.

The Serious Injury Helpline, a specialist in helping those hit by medical errors, is warning of five conditions to look out for if you or a loved one have recently been to A&E.

Sepsis

A life-threatening condition triggered by infection. It is more common in the elderly, young or those who have undergone surgery. Early symptoms include high temperature, shivering, rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing. More severe symptoms can include feeling dizzy or faint, confusion or disorientation, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Sepsis occurs when the immune system goes into overdrive and damages tissue and organs. It can cause inflammation, swelling and blood clotting leading to a significant drop in blood pressure, which means supply to organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys is reduced.

If not treated quickly, it can cause organ failure and lead to death.

Spinal injury

Cauda equina syndrome, involving pressure and swelling on the spinal cord nerves, can result in paralysis yet can be dismissed as back pain. There is a window of 24 to 48 hours in which surgery must take place to avoid permanent damage, which can include incontinence and other neurological and physical issues.

Appendicitis

If the appendix ruptures it can cause peritonitis, a life-threatening infection. Symptoms include stomach ache, fever and pains in one side of the body but this is sometimes dismissed as constipation, flu or a stomach bug.

Heart attack

Most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort often confused with indigestion, heartburn or a chest infection.

Medical guidelines mean that it is unacceptable for a doctor or nurse to determine that chest pain is not a heart attack and send a patient home.

Hip fracture

This usually occurs after a fall but can be caused by a history of long-distance running or a sudden increase in physical activity. Patients may only complain of vague hip, groin or knee pain but it can have a life-changing effect on mobility if untreated.

X-rays can easily be misread and a full diagnosis often requires a CT or MRI scan.

The Serious Injury Helpline (a service of Birchall Blackburn Law) helps victims of clinical negligence. Compensation is important to help with rehabilitation, adaptations of the home and car, buying equipment, home care and assistance, private medical treatment and covering loss of earnings. INFORMATION: For confidential advice or help about possible clinical negligence call the Serious Injury Helpline on FREEPHONE 0800 230 0573.