Daniel Lee, Litigation Associate Solicitor discusses the impact of Hospital infections
Q: My nephew has developed an infection after having a minor knee operation which has had an impact on his return to work and his ability to pay his bills, is there anything that can be done?
A: The short answer is yes, though every case is different and it is always recommended that professional legal help is sought to determine the aspects of an individual situation.
There is any risk with an operation, but when things don’t go to plan and there are complications it can result in an extended recovery period.
This can have a detrimental effect on finances, especially if the patient has to have more time off work meaning a reduction in income (or even no income if they are self employed), but an increase in necessary expenditure to help with their rehabilitation, for example; paying for agency care, additional physiotherapy treatments, buying specialist equipment; walking aids or a wheelchair and in the case of the latter, this may mean alterations to the home to allow for wheelchair access or if that is not possible, then having to move house.
Often it is not just the patient that is affected but also family members if they are providing care, or are taking time off work to help with transport for appointments.
A specialist solicitor can help recover these costs, and in many cases by acting quickly it can mean that treatment is received earlier which could lead to a shorter recovery period and a quicker return to work for the patient.
It is not often known at the time what the long term effects will be, and often people will feel they need to wait in order to seek legal support. A solicitor will take into consideration any future expenses that you may incur as a result of an injury or in this case your nephew’s infection.
To discuss further contact Daniel Lee on 01925 230000 or email daniel.lee@fdrlaw.co.uk