Call (0115) 931 51 71 to talk to us about your situation

Nottingham Maternity Services “Inadequate”

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The Care Quality Commission have downgraded Nottingham Maternity Services to “inadequate” following an unannounced inspection at the Queens Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital.  The inspection concluded that some staff  “did not always understand how to keep women and babies safe“.  Many of the problems arose due to staffing shortages or lack of training.  The Hospital Trust have subsequently confirmed that they are recruiting extra midwives.

Our Clinical negligence lawyers were sadly not surprised to read these findings.  We deal with many cases involving mothers and babies suffering serious injuries or losing their lives following failings in maternity care in our local hospitals.  This is devastating not just for the families but also for the staff involved.

There is a national “Early Notification Scheme” in place which requires hospitals to notify families if there has been a serious incident involving a birth injury. We will be reporting on this scheme in our future news and explain why some children with cerebral palsy and other serious conditions might be entitled to compensation. In the meantime, please urge the Government to properly fund healthcare to safeguard mothers and their babies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-55147561

If you need advice about birth injuries or trauma please get in touch with us. You can call us on (0115) 931 51 71 or send us an email.

Missed Chances To Save Diabetic Patient

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Julie Hardy, a clinical negligence specialist, was contacted by the family of Marie Henson. Marie was only 53 years old when she died from diabetic complications which were missed in the Newark Urgent Care Centre. Her family spoke of their loss and told local newspapers that their “wonderful mother should still be here”. It is tragic that so many chances to save Marie were missed and the family remain devastated by their loss. Type 1 Diabetes is a common condition and complications are usually easily diagnosed and are treatable but Marie was badly let down by health professionals.

The findings of the Coroner have just concluded, following an inquest looking into Marie’s care by Nottinghamshire Assistant Coroner, Dr Elizabeth Didcock. The family attended throughout the inquest and listened to the catalogue of errors when Marie could have been saved. Neglect was determined to be the cause of Marie’s death in 2019. Julie was able to support the family with the inquest as well as recovering compensation for Marie’s family.

Unusually, the Coroner also made recommendations to identify whether one of the treating doctors, Dr Palissery, was competent to work. He missed obvious signs of Marie’s deterioration, leading to diabetic keratosis and cardiac arrest. We hope that doctors learn from mistakes but the Coroner noted that Dr Palissery had not learned sufficiently from this tragedy.

The lack of involvement with specialists at King Mills Hospital and the need for them to train doctors at Newark Urgent Care Centre were highlighted at the Inquest. This is now under review.

Marie leaves behind her husband Kevin, 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren, who spoke movingly of their loss in the Newark Advertiser. Here is the article printed today

Marie Henson newspaper reports for website story

All Barratts’ Partners Recognised For Personal Injury And Clinical Negligence Work

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Chambers is a highly reputable independent legal guide which ranks firms all over the world. In Nottinghamshire we are proud to be named as one of only 2 firms recognised for Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence claims. Barratts only has senior expert lawyers to handle this extremely complex area of law which means clients have a dedicated, specialist lawyer to advise throughout their compensation claim . This is vital for clients facing one of the most traumatic times of their lives coping with brain injury, spinal injury, cerebral palsy and fatalities.

Our partners have again all been individually recognised for their expertise which is an amazing achievement. Here is what Chambers reported:

Personal Injury Department

Sources praise department head Ed Myers for delivering an “excellent service.” He is an experienced practitioner in brain and spinal injury claims, as well as representing clients in CICA cases.

David Tomlinson is recognised as “a go-to person for top-value claims.” He is noted for acting in highly complex claims involving catastrophic injuries resulting from RTAs.

Clinical Negligence Department

Alison Brooks has experience in medical negligence inquests and cerebral palsy cases. Sources are impressed by her “good technical knowledge and experience, clear instructions and focused follow-up.”

Julie Hardy is “outstandingly personable, an extremely good communicator, very tenacious and a delightful person all round,” according to interviewees. Hardy demonstrates expertise in fatal incidents relating to mental health and negligent care cases, as well as high-value birth injury and surgical negligence matters. She is valued by clients for being “passionate about reaching the right outcome,” with one source adding: “She made it very easy to get through the case and had my best interests at heart at all times.”

The “immensely supportive, calm, organised and informative” Emma Zukowska demonstrates expertise in complex birth injury and surgical error cases. Interviewees also note: “She has very good medical and legal knowledge, as well as good judgement.”

Thank you!

Thanks go to all our hardworking staff who make it possible for us to support our clients coping with traumatic injuries. We also recognise the extraordinary clients we have met over many decades who not only cope with adversity but manage to overcome appalling circumstances. Compensation does help to rebuild lives by putting therapy, care and treatment in place. We are a small piece of that puzzle but making a real difference is what keeps our lawyers fighting for injured clients.

Top for Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Again

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Legal 500 is an independent guide of law firms all over the world and recognsied as a benchmark for quality. Each year law firms are judged on their work by asking what their clients and other professionals think of them. Barratts Solicitors has consistently been ranked top for claimant personal injury and clinical negligence work. We know how important the views of our clients are which is why we never take our top ranking for granted. We can only stay at number one with an expert team of lawyers and dedicated staff to provide top quality advice every year.

Consistency

Barratts always wanted to stand out from the crowd, putting client needs 1st and offering a very personal service from a small niche firm. We are delighted that our client approach continues to be recognised by Legal 500 whose staff spend many hours ensuring only the best lawyers are named in their top tier. Many firms apply to be ranked but few are named and even less come top every year. Making a real difference to the lives of our injured clients is paramount. It is a privilege to help seriously injured clients maximise their quality of life and reach their potential, working with families during litigation and after compensation has been awarded.

 

Why Does Legal 500 Rank Barratts Top?

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Excellence shown on a compass

We have already shared the news about independent legal guides, Chambers and Legal 500, naming us top for medical negligence and personal injury. Here is more insight into the Legal 500 ranking which may make you think twice about choosing a solicitor without our expertise.

More than four million users visit The Legal 500 website each year. The guide offers reliable and up-to-date information on law firms. These rankings reflect detailed analysis of law firm submissions and thousands of interviews.  Every firm ranked – and individual mentioned – in the UK Legal 500 UK Solicitors guide is ‘recommended’. As editor Georgina Stanley commented: we have a ” changing UK legal market, where diversity, value for money and the ability to make informed decisions are more important than ever.”

The reviews are from clients and professionals who know what work we do; there is no payment to Legal 500 and many firms apply each year but few are named.

Legal 500 only names a small percentage of lawyers in the UK and even fewer are at the top of their rankings. At Barratts we have been consistently top since the firm was established. Why is this?

Here is what Legal 500 reported this year:  
Barratts Solicitors fields a ‘highly respected’ and ‘first-rate’ team that ‘puts its clients at the heart of the very personal service it provides’ and ‘shows complete commitment to its cases’. The group excels in complex personal injury and clinical negligence litigation, with a strong focus in maximum severity cases, including fatal claims and cerebral palsy cases and matters with a cross-jurisdictional component.

On the personal injury side, the department has a strong track record in matters involving brain and spinal injuries, often offering an early assessment of cases and experience in securing accommodation needs, therapies and other rehabilitation measures. Ed Myers is named as a leading individual.

On the clinical negligence side, the team is especially well-versed in cases involving damages sustained at birth, often obtaining multimillion-pound awards. Clinical negligence regarding cauda equina syndrome, spinal abscess, GP negligence and surgical mismanagement form a particularly large part of the caseload.

The firm also fields a dedicated Court of Protection team led by legal executive Julie Greenwood. Personal injury expert Ed Myers and clinical negligence specialist Alison Brooks, ‘who cares passionately about her cases’, jointly lead the practice. The other key players are Julie Hardy, Debra Morris, David Tomlinson and the ‘particularly strong’ Emma Zukowska.

 

With recommendations like this and a guaranteed senior expert lawyer to personally handle your case, why choose anywhere else? If you think you may be entitled to compensation give us a call.

Top Solicitors Twice In One Week

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The 2019 editions of Legal 500 and Chambers have just been announced. These independent legal guides  base their reviews on feedback from clients, barristers and professionals who work with solicitors. Only a small number of firms in the UK are named, so making it to the top is especially hard. Our “Boutique firm is highlighted for its high-level representation of claimants” and a standout niche firm specialising solely in personal injury and clinical negligence matters.

Number 1 in a star Barratts continue to be top ranked for both our Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence work.

Our unique, personal approach is recognised by both Guides with all Partners again individually recognised. That’s an accolade we are very proud of but which is only possible with our amazing support staff.

Alison Brooks was asked about the results:

She recognises the dedication required to achieve top ranking and was quoted as saying “I feel very proud that we are consistently ranked top based on these reviews. I am reassured that we are getting it right by putting clients first, with only experienced lawyers working in the firm”.

Chambers said:

“Dedicated team of senior practitioners, offering advice to clients on diverse and complicated cases, including delayed diagnoses, negligent surgery, birth injuries and fatal claims.” Specialist head injury and spinal cord expertise was recognised with particular skill handling cross-border litigation.

 

Law Society Clinical Negligence AccreditationOur Clinical Negligence team were described as experienced with “very good insight into dealing with complex clinical issues” Interviewees additionally praise the lawyers “strong emphasis on a very personal service to clients”.

Emma’s skill in high value cases and birth injury was noted. “is extremely thorough” and “ leaves no stone unturned to get the best results for her client. She is also caring and compassionate and has excellent client care skills.”

Julie has extensive experience in complex and birth injury cases. Quotes include “great judgement and acumen in clinical negligence cases,” adding: “She has a wealth of knowledge and really engages with her clients.”

The guide admires Alison for her confidence and client care. She is “highly knowledgeable and experienced” with expertise in claims concerning the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Law society personal injury accreditedOur Personal Injury team were recognised:

Sources say: “They’re very much working with the clients and seeing what their needs are and how they can be met in the best way.”

A client notes: “I am very happy with all aspects of how I have been dealt with; the team are all friendly, professional and personable.”

 

Ed was described as  “really excellent and a canny operator.”

David was praised for his spinal cord injury expertise; “he has very good interpersonal skills, he’s really clear with you and he has a very clear vision of how to proceed with a case”

For more information from Chambers, please visit to read our full profile  https://www.chambers.com/profile/department/6087?publicationTypeId=1&practiceAreaId=144&locationId=16355&subsectionTypeId=1

Read our next instalment later this week to see what Legal 500 says about our injury compensation legal advice.

 

Why Choose Barratts Solicitors?

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We recently announced our top ranking in Legal 500, an independent legal guide, which described us as “one of the best” law firms in the country. Less than a month later Chambers Legal Guide has been published. This places both our Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence teams at the top for our litigation work. Our 5 partners are all “notable practitioners”, an accolade that is limited to only a few solicitors in the UK. Read more