Nursing negligence happens in various ways and situations. Here are some common examples of failures in nursing care that might be grounds to make a medical negligence claim:

• Medication errors: a nurse provides a patient with the wrong medication, or the correct medication at the wrong dosage, this can lead to severe side effects, prolonged hospitalisation or even life-threatening reactions.
• Failure to monitor: a nurse fails to monitor a postoperative patient to track their vital signs and recovery progress, leading to the patient's condition deteriorating.
• Improper use of medical equipment: a nurse uses medical equipment in a way that injures the patient or fails to work properly
• Neglecting patient concerns: a patient repeatedly expresses concerns about a particular symptom or pain they're experiencing, and the nurse dismisses these concerns off-hand, leading to a delayed diagnosis and additional harm.
• Inadequate patient supervision: an at-risk patient is left unattended, resulting in a severe injury, or even self-harm.
• Documentation errors: a nurse fails to accurately record a patient's symptoms, medication reactions or treatment responses, which results in the patient failing to get the treatment they need.
• Infection control failings: a nurse fails to follow the proper hygiene procedures, and a patient contracts a dangerous infection.
• Failure to act on abnormal clinical symptoms: a nurse fails to interpret abnormal vital signs and act appropriately or seek medical opinion.

These examples highlight the significant impact that nursing negligence can have on patients. If you've been affected by any of these failures of nursing care, get in touch with Switalskis to make a medical negligence claim.

Understanding the time constraints for nursing negligence claims is vital to make sure you don't miss out on the opportunity to seek justice and compensation. Generally, you have three years from the date of the negligence, or from the date you became aware of the negligence that caused you an avoidable injury, to start a nursing negligence claim. This is known as the limitation period.

There are a few exceptions to this:

• Children: if the person who suffered the negligence is under 18 at the time, the three-year period doesn’t start until their 18th birthday. This means they have until they turn 21 to start legal proceedings.
• Mental capacity: if the person who suffered the negligence lacks the mental capacity to make their own decisions, there may be no time limit in which to make a claim on their behalf.
• Fatal cases: if you’re claiming on behalf of a deceased family member who passed away due to complications arising from nursing negligence, the claim must be made within three years of the date of death, or the date of knowledge that negligent treatment caused their death.

In some rare cases, the courts may decide to extend the limitation period. However, relying on this is risky, as this is only ever done at the discretion of the courts.

Starting the process sooner rather than later means all evidence is fresh and readily available, and means you won't run the risk of missing a deadline. If you're uncertain about whether you're within the time limit or if you believe you have exceptional circumstances, speak to the medical negligence team at Switalskis for guidance.informed.

Navigating the financial aspects of a nursing negligence claim can be daunting, but Switalskis aims to make sure the process is transparent and accessible so that nobody is ever put off seeking justice due to the costs.

Here's a breakdown of the funding options available:

• No win, no fee agreement: also known as a conditional fee agreement (CFA), this is the most common way to fund a nursing negligence claim. Under a no win, no fee agreement, you won’t need to pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful. Our costs are written off. If you win your case, a percentage of your compensation will be used to cover our fees. This option allows you to pursue your claim without any financial risk, and we’ll discuss all of the potential costs with you upfront to avoid any surprises.
• Legal expenses insurance: we will begin an insurance policy to cover you for the out-of-pocket costs we experience during the investigation. We have our own insurance provider that we use. However, you may have legal expenses cover as part of your home or car insurance policy, which can also be used to fund your claim. We’ll assist you in understanding your policy and liaise with your insurer.
• Legal aid: in very rare cases, Legal Aid may be available for clinical negligence claims, although it’s usually reserved for specific situations. Our team can guide you on whether you might be eligible.

Our team is here to guide you through your funding options and help you pick an option that suits your needs and circumstances.