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<copyright>Copyright &#169; 2012 Kay Kelly</copyright>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 07:52:53 +0100</pubDate>
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<description>Lanyon Bowlder Solicitors blog.</description>
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<description>Lanyon Bowlder Solicitors blog.</description>
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<title><![CDATA[Unacceptable Delays for Eye Surgery in Shropshire]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/unacceptable-delays-for-eye-surgery-in-shropshire-370/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The Shropshire Star reported yesterday (27 February), of unacceptable delays in the treatment of ophthalmic cases awaiting  non urgent eye surgery at The Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital between 2009 and 2011.Non urgent referrals must be seen within 18 weeks of referral according to National Guidelines, but this has not been achieved and in July 2011 more than 6,000 patients had been identified as waiting longer, which fails to meet an acceptable standard of care and is potentially actionable, if unnecessary injury has occurred as a result. Indeed the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust have identified six patients whose eyesight has probably significantly deteriorated because of a delay in their treatment, and a further seven who have suffered minor deterioration. Officials admitted that this was a failure in care.Patients who consider that their sight has been affected as a result of unreasonable delays in their treatment would be well advised to have their situation investigated, as they may well deserve compensation for unnecessary damage to their eyesight. For some people this can affect their ability to drive and work, and can therefore have a quite devastating impact upon their lives.  Lanyon Bowdler have acted in many similar cases and successfully obtained an award in damages for personal injuries, as well as highlighting errors so that lessons may be learned and thus preventing further unnecessary injury. We offer up to 30 minutes free advice and No win no fee agreements to fund the case.For more information email me kay.kelly@lblaw.co.uk or call 01743 280280. 
]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Clinical Negligence]]></category>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:23:01 +0000</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Dangers of High St Opticians Failing to Offer Suitable Eye Tests]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/dangers-of-high-st-opticians-failing-to-offer-suitable-eye-tests-317/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
In the Daily Telegraph on 18 August 2011. I noticed a small article reporting that the consumer watchdog, Which, had unearthed that High Street Opticians are failing to provide adequate eye tests which could prevent some of the most serious eye conditions being diagnosed and treated. Investigations specifically found that some opticians were failing to provide customers with thorough eye examinations and accurate prescriptions.
Unfortunately this is reflected in my own practice as a clinical negligence solicitor and indeed as a department we have noticed an increase in claims against opticians and optometrists, notably, the nationwide high street opticians who advertise widely over a variety of mediums.
Currently one of my most worrying cases is the alleged failure of an optician to urgently refer an 18 year old man who complained of recent onset of blurred vision. Despite presenting with some classic signs associated with glaucoma, inconclusive field vision tests and being unable to tolerate testing for intra ocular pressures he was simply referred to hospital on the choose and book system and was not offered an appointment with an Opthalmologist for several weeks.  In the meantime he suffered loss of vision in his right eye and was referred urgently by his GP only to be diagnosed with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma. Urgent surgery has preserved what little eyesight he had left but only for a period of 10 years and  unless there are considerable advances in medical science this young man is likely to be blind in both eyes by the age of 30.
One of the most worrying thing about the case is that the boys mother took both he and his sibling for regular eye tests but the opticians did not have the previous consultation and eye test results available for reference at the new appointments. Our investigations show that he had suspicious cupping measurements at an earlier eye test and our concern is that this lads eye condition could have been picked up in its very early stages and saved his eyesight completely.  
I consider that most people think the whole point of regular eye tests is to alert the customer of potential eyesight problems and particularly the more dangerous conditions like glaucoma which can develop without any symptoms and that is why this report is so worrying.  Apparently, of 40 optometrists visited by researchers, 12 were judged inadequate by a panel of experts, with one researcher given unsuitable prescriptions on six of her eight visits.
In the circumstances I would suggest that it is essential to ensure your eyes are being tested by an appropiately qualified Optometrist who will err on the side of caution and refer urgently if there are any symptoms suggestive of a serious eye condition.]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Clinical Negligence]]></category>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:56:47 +0100</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/dangers-of-high-st-opticians-failing-to-offer-suitable-eye-tests-317/</guid>
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<title><![CDATA[NHS Failures &amp; the Need to Stop Further Decline]]></title>
<link>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/nhs-failures-the-need-to-stop-further-decline-301/</link>
<description><![CDATA[
As a solicitor working in the field of clinical negligence I was inspired to write after reading a very chilling article by Tim Rayment in this weeks Sunday Times Magazine entitled The Killing Wards. The article focused on the recently publicised failures at Stafford Hospital where in just two years, 400 patients have died unexpectedly.  A recent Public Enquiry asks why commissioning, supervisory and regulatory bodies failed to notice serious problems in one small trust.  Incredibly in 2008 they were awarded a trust foundation status which is supposed to be confirmation of sound management, but at the same time another bureaucratic body was looking into the excessive amount of deaths at the hospital.  Incidents  and complaints range from failure to diagnose and treat life threatening conditions to patients being left to sit in their own excrement for over an hour.  Regulators relied upon self assessments by the Trust but nobody listened to the patients and their families.In my work I come across similar stories all the time from a number of hospitals across the country. Last month the Care Quality Commission revealed that three of the 12 hospitals it visited in spot checks were breaking the law by not providing basic care. Time and time again I hear phrases such as:- ..we kept telling the doctors but they didnt seem to listen and .. she was just left on a trolley in the corridor and we kept telling the nurses that Dad didnt behave like this normally.  I dont doubt that most of the staff are devoted and doing their level best to provide good care, but the aspect which jumps out of most of my cases is that there is no time or money or resources to stop and look at the individual patients symptoms and needs in the round. Like most of my clients I want lessons to be learned from the unnecessary injuries and tragedies that have befallen them and I therefore regularly submit articles about my cases to publications read by lawyers in the health care field, and clinicians to try and assist the learning process.Like many Englishmen, I am proud of the NHS and the values it represents but there are now aspects I am ashamed of.  Cuts are an economic reality at the moment, but I consider we should not compromise patient care, and where it does occur everything should be done to ensure it wont be repeated and re-establish good practices. What worries me even more are the cover ups which are becoming more frequent because of political pressure.  I agree with the author of the article, Tim Rayment, when he says that if his mother was going into hospital tomorrow he wouldnt be as interested in the mortality rates in the hospital but rather the data on pressure sores, the wound infection rate for a particular surgical procedure and a constantly updated survey rating the satisfaction of patients and relatives. 
]]></description>
<category><![CDATA[Clinical Negligence]]></category>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:08:56 +0100</pubDate>
<guid>http://blog.lblaw.co.uk/nhs-failures-the-need-to-stop-further-decline-301/</guid>
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