Pressure Sores Claims

Specialist Pressure Sores Solicitors

Most of us have heard of pressure sores – sometimes referred to as bed sores or pressure ulcers – but few outside of the medical profession know just how serious they can be, even to the point of being life threatening.

Pressure sores can develop when someone is unable to move for a period of time placing extra pressure on a particular area of skin. There is a common misconception that the ulcers can take a long time to develop but sadly that is not always the case, depending upon the circumstances it is possible for pressure sores to develop in as little as one or two hours.

In a clinical setting – a hospital, care home or other similar establishment with medical care on hand – there is a clear duty of care to prevent the sores from developing. Risk assessments must be carried out and any individuals recognised as being at risk need a plan in place to ensure that they are moved regularly, either manually or using specialised equipment such as adapted beds or mattresses. If this doesn’t happen and an ulcer should appear, this could be deemed negligent.

As we have mentioned above, pressure ulcers are not just simply something that can be easily treated and rectified. While not all cases develop into the most serious of conditions, pressure sores can lead to a number of complications including but not restricted to: –   

Blood poisoning

Bone infections

Gangrene 

Even if the sufferer is ‘fortunate’ enough to avoid such serious complications you could still be looking at months or even years of discomfort and treatment.

Satchell Moran are clinical negligence experts and our solicitors are dedicated to helping those who have developed pressure ulcers. It is free to contact us, and you are under no obligation whatsoever to pursue a case, even if we think you have a very strong claim for compensation. If we can help, we will only ever do so on a strict no win no fee basis.