Cardiac problems can be life-changing. Unfortunately, things can go wrong. Misdiagnosis, treatment delays inadequate investigation, poor treatment can all lead to avoidable injury. If this happens to you or your loved ones it is vital you have the best help and support on your side. Mistakes can result in devastating long-term injury, or in some cases death. Many people are left unable to work or can only work at a reduced capacity. This, in turn, can result in significant financial difficulties that affect the whole family.
Common problems include:
- arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm)
- aortic aneurysm
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- ischaemic heart disease, angina, myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- endocarditis (infection of the inner lining of the heart)
- pulmonary oedema
- heart valve disease.
Sometimes things do go wrong and mistakes can have devastating long-term damage, or in some cases death. Many people are unable to work or can only work at a reduced capacity which in turn leads to significant financial difficulties that can affect the whole family.
Our team of clinical negligence specialists is led by Judith Leach, who has many years of experience as a cardiac nurse.
We have represented thousands of clients. As well as obtaining financial compensation, we can help you obtain access to vital rehabilitation services to assist you in your recovery.
“Our thanks doesn’t cover what you did for us Judith”, “I drew great strength from you” and “I will never forget what you did for me”.
– Royds Withy King client
Claiming for compensation
If the treatment of you or a loved one has gone wrong, we can help you make a claim to cover both the pain and suffering caused, and compensation for any costs you’ve incurred. This can include anything from money spent on past and future care, to equipment and further therapy.
Your case and the extent of the compensation we will seek will depend very much on the severity of the injury and the effect it is having on your life. No two cases are the same. We will advise you on what you can expect, and keep you informed at all stages.
Find out more about making a claim for medical negligence in our guide here.
How much will it cost to make a claim?
We can offer no win no fee funding, or a conditional fee agreement, which means our fees are paid out as part of your compensation. The benefit of this option is that, if you lose your case, there will be nothing to pay.
Find out more about all our funding options here.
How long will the claims process take?
The length of any claim will depend on the nature and complexity of your case. Generally speaking the more complex and valuable a case, the longer it will take to conclude. It will also depend on the actions of the Defendant Doctor or Hospital Trust, sometimes they admit liability early, but frequently liability or the value of the case is vigorously fought, adding a lot of extra time.
Find out more about how long a medical negligence case might take here.
Where are Royds Withy King based? Does it matter?
We have offices in Bath, Swindon, Oxford and London. It doesn’t matter where you live, our clients are all over England and Wales.
We are here to help
We’ve represented thousands of clients over the years, and have acted for many people with heart-related claims. We will help you access vital rehabilitation services as well as compensation, enabling you to make a recovery and be as independent as possible.
The first step to making a medical negligence claim though is to contact us as soon as possible. We offer a free initial consultation where we’ll be able to tell you if we think you have a case and how much compensation you might be able to claim.
“The way I look at things, we can all make mistakes but unfortunately in the world of medicine and nursing, some mistakes can have devastating consequences. People need to be able to rebuild their lives, so I get great satisfaction from obtaining the best possible damages settlement for them. Having worked as an intensive care sister and as a midwife, I also strive to ensure that there are changes in practices so that similar injuries are prevented in the future. I’m proud that one of my cases is now used as a teaching aid by a large NHS Trust with this in mind“ – Judith Leach
Recent case examples
Our client received £80,000 following a failure to monitor her late husband’s aortic stenosis (a narrowing of the aortic valve)
A woman received £80,000 following a failure to monitor her late husband’s aortic stenosis (a narrowing of the aortic valve). This is a condition which will deteriorate over time, and in which regular monitoring is thus obligatory. Because it went unmonitored, the degree of narrowing became severe. Her husband became acutely ill and was admitted to hospital, where he developed pneumonia and died. It was our case that with proper monitoring, surgery would have been performed promptly and he would not have died when he did.
Our client received £50,000 following the death of her son, who suffered from a condition known as double outlet right ventricle
A woman received £50,000 following the death of her son, who suffered from a condition known as double outlet right ventricle. Her son underwent an arterial switch operation, and spent a very long time on cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamps. During the surgery when the coronary arteries were manipulated, the right coronary artery snapped. The surgeon later said, “It just broke”. The child died on the operating table.
Our client received £295,000 following the death of her husband as a result of a misdiagnosis of a pulmonary embolism
A woman received £295,000 following the death of her husband. This occurred as a result of a misdiagnosis of a pulmonary embolism, which progressed and developed into a saddle embolus (a large clot sitting over the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery into the left and right pulmonary arteries). It was our case that with earlier diagnosis and treatment, the condition would not have developed to this extent and certainly not with fatal consequences.
Our client received £990,000 following the death of her husband after a failure to diagnose and treat his coronary heart disease over a period of 3 years
