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Pressure Sores and Medical Negligence: What You Need to Know
Pressure sores, also known as bedsores or pressure ulcers, are a serious health issue that can have devastating consequences for patients. They don’t just cause physical pain, they can also be a sign of medical negligence when preventable harm occurs in hospitals, care homes, or other healthcare settings.
The financial and human cost
Between the financial years 2013/14 and 2023/24, clinical negligence claims involving pressure sores cost the NHS a staggering £107,476,137 in compensation. This includes claims resolved through standard settlements and periodical payment orders (PPOs).
Even in the most recent 2024/25 financial year, the problem persisted. Compensation payments for claims involving pressure sores reached £14,030,385, highlighting both the financial strain on the healthcare system and the severe impact on patient’s lives.
What are pressure sores?
Pressure sores develop when prolonged pressure restricts blood flow to the skin, often causing tissue damage. They usually affect patients who are immobile or otherwise vulnerable.
These sores are graded by severity:
- Grade 1: Mild skin discolouration
- Grade 2: Damage to the top layers of skin
- Grade 3: Deep wounds affecting the underlying tissue
- Grade 4: Severe wounds reaching muscle and bone
While anyone can develop a pressure sore, certain patients are at higher risk.
Who is most at risk?
People who are confined to bed, sitting in a chair, or in a wheelchair for long periods are particularly vulnerable. Those at higher risk include:
- Elderly patients
- Individuals with urinary or bowel incontinence
- People with paralysis or limited mobility
- Patients recovering from illness, trauma, or surgery
- Individuals with medical conditions affecting blood flow or skin integrity
When are pressure sores a sign of negligence?
Healthcare providers have a legal duty of care to prevent avoidable harm, including pressure sores. Negligence may occur if:
- Risk assessments for pressure sores are not conducted or regularly reviewed
- Patients are not repositioned regularly to relieve pressure
- Suitable equipment, such as pressure-relieving mattresses or cushions, is not provided
Failure to meet these standards can lead to serious complications, including infections, long-term pain, reduced mobility, extended hospital stays, and, in extreme cases, death.
Studies suggest that 80-95% of pressure sores are preventable with proper care, highlighting how many of these injuries could be avoided entirely.
Additional complications
As a pressure sore progresses, the risk of serious complications rises significantly. What may begin as a small area of redness or skin breakdown can quickly develop into an open wound, creating a direct pathway for bacteria to enter the body. Infection is the most common complication. While it may start as a localised wound infection, without prompt and appropriate treatment it can spread to surrounding tissue and beyond.
If the infection enters the bloodstream, the consequences can become life-threatening. One of the most severe complications is sepsis. A condition in which the body’s response to infection triggers widespread inflammation. This overwhelming immune reaction can impair blood flow, damage vital organs, and, in severe cases, lead to organ failure. When bacteria from a pressure ulcer spreads systemically, the situation can deteriorate rapidly and requires urgent medical intervention.
In advanced stages, prolonged and unrelieved pressure can deprive tissues of oxygen and essential nutrients. Without adequate blood supply, the affected tissue begins to die – a process known as necrosis. Necrotic tissue cannot heal and significantly increases the risk of deep infection.
When a pressure sore progresses to Stage 4, the damage extends beyond the skin into muscle and even bone. At this stage, bacteria can invade the underlying bone, resulting in osteomyelitis, a serious and difficult to treat bone infection that often requires long term antibiotics and sometimes surgical management.
Protecting a patient’s rights
If you or a loved one has suffered from pressure sores due to inadequate care, it’s important to know that help is available. Our medical negligence team can help you to secure compensation for the pain, suffering, and additional care needs caused by preventable injuries.
Our expert team will assess if you are eligible to make a claim and guide you through the process, helping you understand your options and fight for the care and support you deserve.
Resources
https://resolution.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FOI_7550_Claims-for-bedsores-and-amputation.pdf
https://resolution.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FOI_7183_Pressure-Sores.pdf
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Opportunity Available
Job Role: Medical Negligence Paralegal
Type: Permanent, Fulltime
Salary: Between £24,000 and £30,000 depending on experience
Hours: 9.00am-5.00pm, Monday-Friday
Location: Kirkby Office, 12 Newtown Gardens L32 8RR
To Apply: Contact Sarah Boynton, Head of HR.
E-mail: sarahboynton@maxweb.co.uk or T: 01704 872156
We are looking for a Paralegal or NQ Solicitor to join our Medical Negligence Team.
Preferred Experience: The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years’ experience in medical negligence.
Opportunity
Maxwell Hodge has a supportive and open culture, with Team, Support, Guidance, Resilience and Learning at the heart of everything we do. We prioritise employee wellbeing and foster an environment where people feel valued, included, and happy. We believe people thrive when they feel supported, guided, and inspired and by joining Maxwell Hodge, you will join a team that lifts and celebrates each other and encourages learning. Our aim is to maintain a high performing workforce to provide clients with an excellent client experience to attract clientele, maintain loyalty, and ultimately to achieve business success. If you’re looking to contribute, develop, and feel part of something meaningful, you’ll find your home with us.
As a fee earner, you will effectively represent the company and provide efficient legal support by interviewing clients, drafting legal documents, and conducting research. The aim is to provide clients with an efficient, quality, and reputable service and to achieve this, you will need an energetic, enthusiastic, proactive, and creative approach to take initiative, solve problems and overcome challenges. This relates to client dealings as well as business development as you will contribute to networking and marketing activities.
Skills, Qualities and Knowledge Required
- Strong typing skills and proficiency in MS Office.
- Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Strong organisational and case management skills with high attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently, maintain confidentiality, and manage multiple priorities.
- Good research skills to help formulate case strategy.
- Effective time management to meet deadlines and targets.
- Good understanding of legal terminology.
- Good understanding of the company’s marketing and client care strategies and business plans to contribute to achieving company objectives.
- Participation in networking and business development.
- Relationship building to establish and maintain good relationships with stakeholders.
- An empathetic, caring, and friendly approach towards clients and colleagues.
- Good teamwork and cooperation.
- Adaptability to respond positively to change.
- Resilience to overcome challenges and setbacks.
- Ability to remain calm and efficient under pressure.
- An attitude for learning and continuous development.
Key Duties
- Attend upon clients and others in person and by telephone to take instructions.
- Take initial enquiries from clients and prepare summary sheets/initial docs.
- Complete matter and client risk assessments and undertake due diligence and conflict checks throughout the matter.
- Record detailed file/attendance/telephone notes of all communications with clients and third parties.
- Diarise key dates, such as limitation, and keep under review.
- Thoroughly investigate claims including obtaining medical records and reviewing the same for key dates, such as limitation or date of knowledge, as well as other treatment received by the client and establish a timeline of events.
- Undertake initial quantum investigations and prepare a preliminary calculation of financial losses.
- Instruct Counsel/experts and any other third parties as necessary.
- Schedule meetings/appointments/conferences and maintain an up-to-date diary.
- Attend conferences/hearings and prepare notes.
- Prepare documents such as Letters of Claim, Witness Statements, and Instructions to experts and Counsel.
- Perform legal research as and when required to assist with case progression.
- Advise clients and keep them informed throughout their claim.
Salary, Holidays and Benefits
- The salary for this role is up to £30,000 depending on experience.
- Annual holiday entitlement in a full calendar year is 20 days, increasing yearly to 25 days by 5 years’ service. This is in addition to bank holidays and an extra 3 days to be used between Christmas and New Year.
- Hybrid working considered after 6 months service (fulltime office based to begin with).
- Paid sick leave, dependant’s leave, and birthday leave.
- Employer Supported Volunteering (2 working days each year).
- Health benefit with Medicash, which new starters can join after 6 months’ service.
- Staff discount on Wills & LPAs and Residential Conveyancing, eligible after 6 months.
- Staff wellbeing and social events.
- Different opportunities for reward and recognition including a Bonus Policy, Employee Referral Programme, Employee Recognition, and a Client Care Quarterly Reward.
- Formal performance review process, including a probation review meeting at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months.
- Annual salary and bonus review in June of each year.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
We are committed to ensuring our working practices and job roles are inclusive to meet a wide variety of needs. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments or have access requirements, please make us aware when applying for the position so that we can arrange a suitable interview. Successful candidates will be asked about reasonable adjustments for their employment at Maxwell Hodge when they are formally offered the position, so that we can ensure the role meets their requirements.
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