Useful information

• Personal Injury Claim
• Road Accident Claim
• Serious Injury Claim
• Medical Negligence Claim
• Birth Injury Claim
• PIAB Application Guide
• Statute of Limitation
• No Win No Fee Guide

Hospital Negligence Claim

Hospital negligence cases typically arise when a Doctor, Consultant, or other healthcare practitioner fails to meet the medical profession’s expected standard of care when treating patients. You may be eligible to make a hospital negligence claim if you have experienced harm or injury due to such negligence. Our dedicated solicitors can guide you through the claims process, ensuring your case is handled carefully and professionally. We are here to help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve. For a confidential consultation, please get in touch with us at 1800-844-104 or [email protected]. You can also visit us at our 84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1, Ireland office.

What is hospital negligence?

Hospital negligence occurs when a patient sustains a personal injury due to an error in a hospital. The hospital has a duty of care to the patient to provide the highest possible standard of treatment and ensure that all surgeries and assessments are carried out carefully and safely. Appropriate manner and where a diagnosis is involved should be accurate and correct. Hospital Negligence may occur in the Emergency Department (A&E), in the emergency room, at a specialist appointment referred by a doctor, or during treatment in the hospital. We understand that enduring a situation where hospital negligence has occurred can be deeply distressing for the patient as the patient may not know where to go to seek redress or, in a more serious case, where the damage done is irreversible.

Hospital negligence claims in Ireland

• In Ireland, the number of hospital negligence claims has been increasing over recent years. According to the State Claims Agency, 105,424 incidents were reported in 2021, up from 100,930 in 2020 and 79,403 in 2017. Ref: RTÉ
• Financially, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has paid over €832 million in medical negligence cases since 2014, with €108 million disbursed in the first five months of 2019 alone. Ref: The journal
• By the end of 2022, there were 3,875 active clinical claims in Ireland, with an estimated total liability of €3.85 billion. Ref: BMJ Journals
• In September 2024, the Minister for Health published the Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on the Rising Cost of Health-Related Claims, which includes recommendations to address the increasing costs associated with these claims. These statistics highlight a concerning trend in hospital negligence claims within the country. Ref: Gov.ie

Common types of hospital negligence

Hospital Negligence occurs when a member of the hospital staff, medical professionals, and practitioners makes an incorrect decision or fails to diagnose an illness and treat it promptly. These are the common types of Hospital Negligence that can typically occur. Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of Hospital Negligence by hospital staff, medical professionals, and practitioners:

• Failed to administer and or carry out the treatment on time;
• Administered incorrect treatment;
• Made an error during a surgical procedure;
• Carried out radical treatment that could be avoided where a more conservative treatment path was available;
• Failed to monitor the fluid levels of the patient;
• Allowed the patient to suffer hospital-acquired infections, pressure sores or other such injuries due to an unhygienic hospital environment or substandard system of patient care;
• Failed to obtain informed consent from the patient before carrying out surgery;
• Failed to communicate and explain the known risks of a surgical procedure to the patient;
• Provided substandard care around childbirth to either mother or child or both;
• Failed to refer a patient to another specialist where it was necessary to do so;
• Failed to prescribe and administer correct medication;
• Inadequate follow-up care

If you have questions surrounding an incident you have experienced that you believe may be a form of Hospital Negligence, don’t hesitate to contact our hospital negligence claim team to find out more.

Causes of hospital negligence

There can be several reasons why Hospital Negligence can occur. Some common causes may be:

• Junior staff members and medical professionals/practitioners who may be less experienced;
• The high level of stress that medical staff members are under in the hospital environment;
• There is a lack of hospital resources to allow the medical staff members to do their jobs properly, safely, and to the highest quality standard for the patient.

Statute of limitation

In Ireland, the statute of limitations for a hospital negligence claim is two years less one day from the date of the incident or from when the injury was discovered (known as the “date of knowledge”). This means you have just under two years to initiate legal proceedings from the moment you become aware of the injury and its connection to the negligence. Acting quickly is crucial, as failing to do so within this timeframe may be a problem for you. For more detailed information, please visit Statute of Limitation page

Our team

• Have you had a surgical procedure that did not turn out as it should?
• Have you been left in pain, or do you continue to suffer from physical discomfort or physical scarring?
• Have you been misdiagnosed or had a delayed diagnosis of cancer or another serious illness affecting your health?

Any injury suffered during a medical procedure, whether physical or psychological, may have long-term effects on the victim and their families. Our medical negligence solicitors have assisted many clients in recovering maximum damages, and we believe in putting our clients’ needs first.

Coleman Legal LLP

Solicitors
84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
D01 YX60
DX 112002

Contact Details

Free Phone: 1800-844-104
Fax: (01) 5312727
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.colemanlegalpartners.ie
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