The Association of Personal Injury Solicitors (APIL) have argued that there is no evidence that no win no fee arrangements for medical negligence claims is behind the increase in claims against the healthcare profession. In a letter to the Law Society Gazette, APIL rebutted the allegation by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) that the existence… Read More
A petition has been launched by campaigners of accident victims to stop a medical negligence legal aid levy. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) intends to impose the Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme (SLAS) in April 2013. This will allow for up to a 25% deduction from compensation awarded to victims of medical negligence who have had… Read More
The Medical Defence Union say that claims against doctors has seen an unprecedented increase. Claims against GPs have seen a significant increase and there has been a 56% increase in disciplinary cases against health professionals in hospitals and primary care sectors. A sign that standards are deteriorating in medical care? No, say the Medical Defence… Read More
Newly released figures have discovered that at least 14 babies and 2 mothers have died, among birth injuries also, in the past 5 years at a hospital that is at the centre of a police inquiry. The police investigation of Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Cumbria was started following concerns that were raised by a… Read More
Road safety campaigners have said that dangerous cyclists that cause injury to pedestrians should face the same penalties as dangerous drivers. Swain & Co.’s personal injury solicitors back the campaigners for tougher penalties on cyclists after the case of Clive Hyer, the solicitor who was left with brain injuries when a cyclist jumped a red… Read More
A Teesside council has been prosecuted for failing to manage asbestos during clearance work prior to demolition of a property. The council acquired a Music and Drama Club building and decided to demolish it as part of a regeneration project. A survey was carried out in April 2010 that identified areas that contained asbestos. And… Read More
A demolition boss was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker was left paralysed following a fall from the roof of a pub in Sutherland. The worker was working for David Brian Riseborough who owns North Eastern Demolition Company, when the incident happened in June 2010. The firm was demolishing a… Read More
Paul Collins is an experienced fitter who suffered head injuries whilst trying to recover an abandoned 17 tonne excavator. Having worked for Tannington Transport for only three months, Mr Collins suffered a fractured skull when a heavy duty vehicle jack ‘popped’ out of position and struck him on his head. The incident happened in September… Read More
In the first case of its kind, it has been revealed that the South London Healthcare NHS trust faces administration due to the £69m debt at the start of this financial year. South London Healthcare is a merger of three hospital trusts: Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington, Queens Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup and the… Read More
Asbestos is dangerous when it becomes airborne, which usually occurs when the asbestos fibres become damaged. When these fibres are inhaled they can result in serious internal injuries which account for around 4,000 deaths per year. Buildings built before 2000 could contain asbestos and therefore employers should be vigilant and promote the safety of their… Read More
