Dianne Willmore, who passed from mesothelioma in 2009, won a landmark £240,000 case, holding Knowsley Borough Council liable for her asbestos exposure during school. Her case prompted legal and financial ramifications for local authorities nationwide, leading to increased awareness and changes in asbestos-related negligence proceedings.
Shane Flynn, 35, owner of a Mullingar clinic, was convicted of sexual assault after inappropriately touching a client seeking back pain relief. The investigation also revealed 18 hours of footage showing Flynn secretly filming 35 women during massages, raising further concerns about his conduct and abuse of trust within his practice.
Naveed Rana, a Dublin taxi driver, was sentenced to five and a half years for the assault of an 18-year-old woman after a night out. The court heard how Rana took advantage of the victim’s trust, driving erratically and assaulting her before being apprehended due to her quick actions in reporting the incident to Gardaí.
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Following a five-year legal battle, Amy Stead, a mother from Wrexham, has been awarded over £575,000 in compensation for injuries sustained during childbirth. After enduring an almost three-year journey of trying to conceive, Ms Stead was left with lifelong injuries following labour.
She believes that the medical staff would not have missed the severe tear that she suffered had they not been so rushed. As a result, Ms Stead has been left with a stoma permanently. Ms Stead expressed that had her obstetrician taken the time to inspect her more thoroughly, the injury could have been caught early and operated on immediately, limiting any lasting effects.
Not only did Ms Stead have to endure the physical effects of her injuries, but she also suffered from PTSD in the aftermath, expressing that her injuries overshadowed the joy of welcoming her first child. Ms Stead’s decision to pursue legal action was a tough one as she was employed by the same hospital.
According to 2022/2023 statistics for England, 13% of clinical negligence claims are attributed to maternity care, the highest of any hospital department. Payments in maternity negligence claims cost the NHS £1.1 billion last year, a shocking figure considering the budget for maternity services is £3 billion. Damages in such cases tend to be substantial due to the severe psychological and physical consequences.
The Birth Trauma Association blames underfunding and staffing shortages, which lead to an unsupported and compassion-fatigued workforce. They are campaigning for ground-up investment in the sector to improve standards. The Department of Health and Social Care states that it is committed to improving maternity services and has prioritised it in its Women’s Health Strategy 2024.
Despite the relief of the litigation being over, Ms Stead has expressed that no amount of compensation can cure her trauma. She hopes that sharing her experience will comfort other mothers who have also suffered trauma in childbirth.
If you or a loved one have experienced childbirth injuries or medical negligence, contact Coleman Legal LLP for confidential support at 1800-844-104 or email us at [email protected]
Shane Flynn, 35, owner of a Mullingar clinic, was convicted of sexual assault after inappropriately touching a client seeking back pain relief. The investigation also revealed 18 hours of footage showing Flynn secretly filming 35 women during massages, raising further concerns about his conduct and abuse of trust within his practice.
Naveed Rana, a Dublin taxi driver, was sentenced to five and a half years for the assault of an 18-year-old woman after a night out. The court heard how Rana took advantage of the victim’s trust, driving erratically and assaulting her before being apprehended due to her quick actions in reporting the incident to Gardaí.
Pat Murphy, a 34-year-old father, died after a ruptured artery went undiagnosed at Cork University Hospital. Despite suffering severe chest pains, he faced a nine-hour wait for a CT scan, delayed further by a malfunctioning machine. His family claims this delay contributed to his tragic death.
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