Neonatal hypoglycaemia claims
The birth of a child should be a joyous event, but this happiness can be overshadowed by fear and uncertainty if your newborn is diagnosed with a condition like hypoglycaemia. At Switalskis, we're here to see whether you’re able to claim compensation for what you've gone through.
We'll provide the necessary guidance and support to make an informed decision about pursuing a claim. Your child's wellbeing is our top priority, and we’re committed to fighting for your rights, giving you the best possible chance of securing the compensation you deserve. We're dedicated to keeping you in the loop at every stage, and making sure your whole family is properly supported.
In these moments of vulnerability and confusion, we strive to be more than just your legal representatives. We aim to be the compassionate partner you need, providing a mix of empathetic understanding and professional expertise. So, if you're dealing with the distressing aftermath of a diagnosis, we encourage you to reach out to us.
Begin your journey towards justice and compensation with a no-obligation chat today.
Call Switalskis today on 0800 1380 458, or get in touch through the website. We’re here to listen, advise and help you reclaim control of your situation.
When your world is upended by a diagnosis, the path forward can seem overwhelming. Switalskis will be there to shine a light through the uncertainty, providing expert guidance and compassionate support.
The Switalskis medical negligence solicitors are experts with a track record of success in handling complex claims. With our understanding of both the medical and legal elements of these cases, we are well-equipped to provide the comprehensive support you need.
Our team includes solicitors who are accredited as specialists by the Law Society and the patient charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) . We’re also recognised as being among the top clinical negligence teams in England by the Legal 500 UK, the foremost legal guide for clients.
We make it our mission to demystify the process for you, breaking down complex legal jargon into clear, understandable language. We keep you informed at every step, helping you to make informed decisions about your claim. Our empathetic approach helps us to fully understand your situation, allowing us to offer tailored advice that aligns with your unique needs.
We appreciate the emotional turmoil that comes with making a diagnosis, and we offer not only professional advice but emotional support as well. You're more than just a client to us - you're an individual facing a challenging situation, and we're here to help.
At Switalskis, we’re passionate about your rights. We’ll leave no stone unturned when it comes to investigating your claim. From securing medical records and expert opinions, to tirelessly advocating for you in court, we’re committed to getting the best possible outcome for you and your family.
If you believe that your child's was due to medical negligence, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our compassionate team is waiting to guide you through what could otherwise be a complex process.
is a condition that affects newborn infants, where the baby's blood sugar levels are significantly lower than normal. Glucose plays a critical role in providing energy to the body and is particularly vital for the brain, so a lack of blood sugar is a potentially serious condition, especially if it's not identified and treated promptly.
In the first few hours and days of life, maintaining the right blood glucose concentrations in the blood can be a delicate balance. Babies draw their glucose from their mothers before birth. After birth, they must begin to generate their own glucose from their body stores, and from their feed. In some cases, this process may not go as smoothly as it should and lead to hypoglycaemia.
can occur shortly after birth or may develop after a few days. It's particularly common in babies who are premature, smaller or larger than average, or in babies whose mothers have diabetes.
With prompt recognition and appropriate management, most babies will recover fully from this condition and lead a healthy life. This is why it's crucial for medical professionals to maintain a regular routine of blood glucose measurement when monitoring newborn babies, so they can quickly recognise and act on signs of hypoglycaemia.
If they fail to do this, the health consequences can be serious - and it could form the basis of a medical negligence claim.
Identifying the symptoms of can be challenging, as some babies may not show clear signs, while others may have more subtle symptoms. However, recognising these signs is crucial, as this allows doctors to take action when blood glucose levels fall.
Symptoms of to watch out for include:
In severe cases, can lead to seizures. This is considered a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.
It's essential for healthcare professionals to monitor babies closely, especially those at higher risk, to keep an eye out for these potential clinical signs of hypoglycaemia. By spotting them early, they can prevent the most severe complications, which may include brain injury.
If you suspect that doctors may have missed obvious signs that your newborn baby had hypoglycaemia, you may have grounds for a medical negligence claim.
There are a number of situations in which you might be able to make a negligence claim. To do so, you need to be able to prove that the negligence of healthcare professionals has directly caused harm or injury to your baby.
Specific situations where you could potentially make a negligence claim include:
These are complex claims that require expert legal support. At Switalskis, we specialise in claims and can help you understand whether you can make a claim for compensation in your circumstances.
The process of making a claim can be complex, but at Switalskis, we’ll simplify it as much as we can and keep you fully informed every step of the way.
Here's a broad overview of the steps involved:
In an initial consultation, we learn about your unique situation. We’ll need to understand your child’s condition, the circumstances leading up to their diagnosis, and the impact it has had on your lives. This meeting will give us a clear picture of what we need to investigate.
Next, we’ll meticulously investigate the circumstances surrounding the birth and medical care that led to the diagnosis. This will involve obtaining and reviewing medical records, consulting with independent medical experts, and investigating the care provided. The aim is to prove that was caused by medical negligence and start to work out the potential overall value of the claim. This early stage, given the fact we use the best medicolegal experts and counsel, can take between 18 months to two years.
Once we’ve enough evidence, we’ll send a letter of claim to the medical professionals involved, outlining the full details of the claim and the evidence supporting it. The defendant will need time to conduct their own investigations, which will include obtaining their own expert advice in order to decide whether to accept liability. This can take up to 12 months before they’re in a position to answer the letter of claim with a formal letter of response.
If the defendant admits responsibility in their letter of response, we can then obtain an interim payment by agreement with the defendant, and with the approval of the court. This initial payment means we can then engage the support of a deputy (who manages the compensation on behalf of the injured person/child) and also employ a case manager, therapists and much-needed support. All of these steps and the engagement of individuals will take place in consultation with you as parents/individuals.
Many claims will be settled through negotiation, and a fair settlement will be agreed upon without needing to go to trial. However, in many cases we do have to start formal court proceedings to make sure that we progress cases and make sure the defendant and their solicitors keep to strict court timetables. In rare cases we may need to take your claim to trial - should this happen with your claim, we will of course be with you every step of the way.
If the defendants deny responsibility and we have to issue court proceedings, we will deal with the liability part of the claim first. Once we succeed in proving liability (by negotiation or at trial), your child (or you as an individual if bringing the claim yourself as you have the capacity to do so) will receive compensation. Any award of compensation to a child or a person without capacity has to be formally approved by the court. The compensation is often life-changing, helping to cover the costs of care, therapy, equipment and adaptations to housing, making sure the best quality of life for your child.
Remember, this is a general outline and each case is unique. The length and complexity of the process can vary significantly depending on the specifics of your case. For a clearer view of the steps that might be involved in your case, simply give us a call.
Generally, there will be a legal time limit - also known as the limitation period - within which you need to bring your claim. This is why timing is important when deciding whether to file a medical negligence claim.
The standard limitation period for medical negligence claims in England and Wales is three years. However, for cases involving children, this three-year period doesn’t start until the child's 18th birthday. This means a claim can be made at any time before the child turns 21.
In some circumstances, exceptions to these time limits can be made. For instance, in cases where the person affected by the negligence doesn’t have the mental capacity to manage their own affairs, there is no time limit to make a claim.
Whatever your circumstances, it's important to seek legal advice as soon as possible after the incident. The sooner you start the claim process, the sooner evidence can be collected, and proceedings can begin.
Families will often ask how much compensation they might expect for a medical negligence claim. However, there’s no simple answer to this question, because the value of a claim will vary significantly depending on the factors involved.
The compensation awarded for claims generally falls into two categories:
At Switalskis, we understand the financial strain that such situations can put on a family. That's why we fight vigorously to secure the maximum compensation possible for your claim. By getting in touch with us, we can provide an informed estimate of the potential compensation you could receive after thoroughly examining all aspects of your case.
We understand that the thought of legal costs can be daunting, especially when you're already dealing with the consequences of a case. At Switalskis, our priority is to make the process as stress-free as possible for you, including when it comes to funding your claim. The funding options available include:
Call us to arrange a free initial consultation, and we can take this opportunity to discuss your case without any financial obligation. It's during this consultation that we'll review the details of your case, advise you on the chances of success, and discuss the potential funding options available to you.
Contact us today and let's start your journey towards recovery together. Call us today on 0800 1380 458, or get in touch via our form.
Navigating a compensation claim can be a complex and stressful journey. However, when you have the medical negligence specialists at Switalskis by your side, you can rest assured that you’ve got an experienced legal ally supporting you step by step.
We understand how complicated the medical negligence claims process can seem, which is why we’re dedicated to simplifying it for you as much as possible. We’ll help translate complex legal terms into clear, easy-to-understand language, and we’ll always be there to answer your questions and clear up any points of confusion.
Every family’s situation is unique, and we’ll strive to understand your needs throughout the claims process. We listen attentively to your concerns, respect your emotions, and provide bespoke advice that's tailored to your specific situation. To us, you're more than just a client - we know you and your family are navigating a challenging period, and we'll be there to support you in all ways possible.
However long your claim takes to resolve, you'll always be in safe hands with Switalskis. With our decades of experience and proven success in securing compensation for cases just like yours, you can have confidence in us doing all we can to achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Switalskis is committed to upholding your rights and making sure your voice is heard. By making a claim with us, we’ll do everything we can to not only get the compensation you deserve but also to do all we can towards lessons being learned.
can occur for a variety of reasons, and some newborns may be more vulnerable than others due to certain risk factors. While these risk factors may increase the chances of a newborn experiencing low blood glucose, this does not mean that the condition will happen. In other cases, might affect newborns even without any of these risk factors present.
The most common factors associated with low blood glucose concentrations include:
Recognising these risk factors allows healthcare providers to closely monitor newborns who may be at higher risk. If your baby has suffered from and has sustained damage as a result, and you believe these risk factors weren’t properly managed, you may have grounds for a claim.
If the condition isn’t addressed quickly, can result in serious and potentially long-term effects on a child's development and wellbeing. The brain depends on glucose for energy, so low glucose levels can affect brain function and development in various negative ways.
Some potential long-term effects of include:
The impact of these potential long-term effects can be wide-ranging, affecting the child's quality of life, educational performance and future potential. If your child is experiencing any of these long-term effects, and you believe there may have been negligence involved, you may be entitled to make a claim.
is a potentially serious condition, but with the right treatment at the right time, it can be managed effectively. The primary goal of the treatment is to restore your baby's blood sugar levels to a safe range and keep them stable.
Blood glucose problems among newborn babies can often be prevented entirely with the following steps:
Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to monitor newborns at risk of and to act quickly if the condition is identified. Failure to do so could be considered negligence, and you may have a case for a compensation claim.
If your newborn baby has been left with health problems because those responsible for their care failed to manage their blood sugar level properly, Switalskis is here to help. We know how distressing it can be to deal with health concerns so soon after your child's birth. We're here to help you get the compensation and justice your family deserves.
Call Switalskis today on 0800 1380 458 , or contact us through our website to find out more about the services we provide and how we can support you.