Pressure sores affect over 700,000 patients in the UK every year. These sores can cause significant pain and lead to life-changing, long-term health issues. In some cases, substandard medical care may cause patients to develop otherwise preventable pressure sores or suffer unnecessarily from them. If you have experience with that, please keep reading, especially if you’ve been wondering, ‘How much compensation for pressure sores?’
What You Need To Know
- Pressure sore compensation may be based on the suffering you have experienced and the potential financial costs associated with it.
- In order to claim medical negligence compensation, you must show that you suffered unnecessarily due to a failure to provide you with the correct standard of care.
- You usually need to submit your claim within 3 years of the date you experienced the medical negligence or became aware of it.
- The severity of pressure ulcers is assessed using 4 grades, which account for effects on the skin, tissue, and muscle.
- A No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel could help you to make a pressure sore medical negligence claim.
If you’d like to learn more about the process of claiming for pressure sore compensation or are ready to take your first steps today, please contact our advisors today:
- Call our advice line on 0800 408 7826
- Complete an online enquiry form
- Use our online chat feature in the corner
Frequently Asked Questions
- How Much Compensation For Pressure Sores Or Bed Sores Can I Get?
- How Are The Severity Of Pressure Sores Graded?
- Can I Make A Pressure Sore Or Bed Sore Compensation Claim?
- How Does Negligence Cause Pressure Ulcers To Develop?
- What Can Be Done To Prevent A Pressure Sore?
- Will Pressure Sores Always Be A Sign Of Negligence?
- How Can I Claim For Pressure Ulcer Compensation?
- Can I Make A No Win No Fee Bed Sore Claim?
- More Information
How Much Compensation For Pressure Sores Or Bed Sores Can I Get?
When answering a question like ‘how much compensation for pressure sores or bed sores could I get?’, solicitors may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document provides suggested compensation brackets for many kinds of harm, based on factors like severity and type.
Solicitors use the JCG to assess a portion of your compensation called general damages, which covers the pain and suffering resulting from harm. We have included some JCG brackets, but it’s important to note, as you read our table, that they do not represent any kind of guarantee of compensation.
Please note that the first figure we have included was not taken from the JCG.
| Type of Harm | Severity | Compensation Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple instances of very severe harm with financial loss | Very severe | Up to £1,000,000+ | Multiple instances of very severe harm with associated costs, such as a loss of income |
| Brain and head | Very severe | £344,150 to £493,000 | In a case at the top end of bracket, the claimant may have returned to regular sleeping/waking patterns, but there will be little to no evidence that they have language capacity or a meaningful reaction to their environment |
| Moderate (i) | £183,190 to £267,340 | Features cases where the claimant has an intellectual deficit that is deemed moderate to severe, a change in personality, effects on speech and sense, a significant risk of epilepsy, and no employment prospects | |
| Less severe | £18,700 to £52,550 | Factors considered include the severity and extent of harm that claimant initially experienced and the degree of personality change | |
| Amputation of leg | Above-knee amputation of 1 leg | £127,930 to £167,760 | The award will be impacted by a variety of factors, including how severe any phantom pain is and risk of developing osteoarthritis in the claimant's remaining joints |
| Below-knee amputation of 1 leg | £119,570 to £162,290 | The compensation will reflect the claimant's experience of issues like phantom pain, successful ability to use prosthetics, and associated psychological effects | |
| Amputation of arm | Loss of 1 arm (i) | Not less than £167,380 | Amputation of a single arm at the shoulder |
| Loss of 1 arm (iii) | £117,360 to £133,810 | Amputation of 1 arm below the elbow | |
| Kidney | Loss of 1 kidney with no damage to the other (c) | £37,550 to £54.760 | Claimant's kidney will be lost without there being any damage to the other |
What Is Considered When Calculating Pressure Sore Compensation?
Many factors may be considered when calculating pressure sore compensation. For instance, general damages might take into account the severity of your harm and whether it will have any lasting impact, such as a long-term disability.
Some successful claimants will also receive special damages. This is the part of the compensation that allows you to recover the out-of-pocket expenses resulting from the harm you experienced.
You must be able to provide evidence of the costs you have accumulated, such as bank statements and receipts. Provided that you have such documented proof, expenses like the following may be included:
- Payments for medical care, including private treatment and prescriptions
- The cost of travel to and from medical appointments that are relevant to your pressure sore claim
- Lost income due to being unable to work, potentially including future earnings
- The expense of home adjustments to support your independence or disability, such as the installation of handrails or a stairlift
- Professional care to support your day-to-day needs. Alternatively, if a loved one loses out on income due to the need to care for you, that impact may also be added to the claim
If you are still unsure about the factors considered when calculating how much compensation for pressure sores someone might receive, please speak to our advisory team today. They have handled many similar enquiries and can provide you with a completely free case assessment tailored to your specific situation.
How Are The Severity Of Pressure Sores Graded?
The severity of pressure sores is graded based on 4 different categories. Health care professionals use these to assess the impact that the patient may experience. We have provided a description of each grade, ordered from least to most severe:
- Grade 1: Signs include pain, discolouration of the area, and a hard, spongy, or warm feeling
- Grade 2: These ulcers may consist of damage to the outer or deeper layer of skin and look like a burst/open blister
- Grade 3: Applies to ulcers that affect the thickness of the skin, with damage to the tissue underneath
- Grade 4: The most severe type of ulcer, involving serious damage to the skin and the death of surrounding tissue. There is a high chance of infection.
As we have discussed, the severity of the harm you have suffered can impact how much compensation for pressure sores you may receive. Speak with our advisory team today to discuss the type of ulcers you have suffered from.
Can I Make A Pressure Sore Or Bed Sore Compensation Claim?
You can make a pressure sore or bed sore compensation claim if you are able to prove the following:
- A medical professional owed a duty of care to you
- They failed to treat you in line with their duty
- This caused you to suffer unnecessary harm from pressure or bed sores, such as a life-threatening infection
All medical practitioners owe a duty of care to their patients, as do facilities like GP practices. Essentially, this means that they must provide you with the minimum standard of care that is expected of them. To help support those standards, bodies like the General Medical Council (GMC) provide guidance for doctors on how to deliver high-quality patient care in the UK. Doctors can refer to resources from the GMC to keep their knowledge current.
It is important to note that the harm you have suffered in relation to your bed sores must have been avoidable. We explain this further in the following section, though you can also speak with an advisor today for further guidance on what might constitute medical negligence.
How Does Negligence Cause Pressure Ulcers To Develop?
Medical negligence can cause pressure ulcers to develop in various ways. We have included some examples below of when you may have grounds to seek compensation:
- You stay in a hospital for several weeks after surgery following head trauma. Staff at the hospital fail to clean your body regularly, despite the fact that you cannot get out of bed to do so yourself. This poor management of your care results in you developing bed sores unnecessarily.
- You experience a traumatic birth and cannot get out of bed without assistance. While staying in a healthcare facility, the medical staff do not make efforts to keep you mobile or regularly reposition you. That causes you to develop pressure sores on your arm. These become infected, leading you to have your arm amputated.
- Medical staff notice that you are exhibiting the early signs of pressure sores, including noticeable swelling and redness. However, they ignore your clear discomfort and make no effort to investigate whether you have bed sores. You subsequently develop severe wounds that leave you with long-term tissue damage.
If you’re unsure whether you have grounds to make a pressure claim, get in touch with an advisor today. This gives you the chance to talk about the specifics of your experience of bed sore negligence. They can also provide you with more details on the factors that can influence how much compensation for pressure sores a claimant might receive.
What Can Be Done To Prevent A Pressure Sore?
There are steps that can be taken to prevent a pressure sore from developing, including:
- The use of specifically designed cushions and mattresses
- Staying active (where possible)
- Regularly checking your skin for signs of an ulcer developing
- Regularly changing your position
- Maintaining a balanced and healthy diet
Speak with an advisor today if you’d like to discuss the level of care you received for your pressure ulcers.
Will Pressure Sores Always Be A Sign Of Negligence?
No, pressure sores are not always a sign of medical negligence. In some cases, ulcers may develop despite medical professionals providing their patients with the correct standard of care.
The following factors may lead to an increased chance of getting a pressure ulcer:
- Recovering after surgery
- A lack of mobility or movement.
- A pre-existing condition, such as diabetes, or being in a wheelchair
- Having skin that is broken, sweaty, or swollen
- Having previously suffered from pressure sores
- Poor hydration or diet
- Poor circulation
- Diminished sensation or capacity to feel pain
As you can imagine, clinical professionals cannot control all of these factors. That can sometimes make it difficult to determine whether a patient has experienced avoidable harm due to negligent treatment.
However, you can rest assured that our advisory team will look into the circumstances of your experience and provide you with a free, no-obligation case assessment. Why not get in touch with them for straightforward answers? This also gives you a chance to get further guidance on the factors which can determine how much compensation for pressure sores might be paid out in a successful claim.
How Can I Claim For Pressure Ulcer Compensation?
You can claim for pressure ulcer compensation by providing evidence of the harm you suffered and how it was caused by substandard care. Valid evidence may include:
- A copy of your medical records. This information may also include notes on the wounds you suffered, the diagnoses you received, and the dates of any drainage treatments.
- Any correspondence you have relevant to your claim, such as a complaint about
- Photos of your pressure sore injuries
- Contact details of people who witnessed your treatment (a solicitor from our panel could contact them at a later stage to take witness statements)
Our panel of solicitors understands that the fallout from medical negligence can make gathering evidence a difficult task. That is why they are always ready to offer their clients whatever assistance they might need with obtaining proof for their claim.
Will There Be A Time Limit For Starting A Pressure Sore Claim?
Yes, there will likely be a 3-year time limit for starting your pressure sore claim, as outlined in the Limitation Act 1980. This limitation period may begin from the date that you experienced the medical negligence. Alternatively, it could start from a later date if you did not immediately realise that medical negligence caused you to suffer unnecessarily.
It is also important to note that those who are below the age of 18 or mentally incapacitated are unable to make a claim for clinical negligence themselves. Therefore, the 3-year time limit will not start for individuals belonging to these categories unless:
- A child reaches the age of 18
- A mentally incapacitated adult makes a recovery. In such cases, the 3 years would begin to run down from the date of that recovery
Furthermore, another person may be able to represent their case during a pause in the limitation period. The said person would act as a litigation friend, which requires them to represent the best interests of the affected party when helping to claim on their behalf.
If you’re unsure whether you have enough time to claim, please don’t delay reaching out to our advisory team. They’re here to help and can also provide you with a free case assessment.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Bed Sore Claim?
You can make a No Win No Fee bed sore claim if you meet the criteria we have previously described. No Win No Fee agreements are commonly offered to those seeking a financially accessible route to legal representation.
The Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) offered by our panel of solicitors is a contract that works on a No Win No Fee basis. If you are represented through a CFA, you will not need to pay any solicitor fees for the work done on your case:
- Before the beginning of the pressure sore claim
- While your case is ongoing
- If you do not receive medical negligence compensation
If your case wins, you will be required to pay a success fee. This is the percentage of the compensation that is owed to your solicitor for the work they’ve done. However, a cap is in place, ensuring that you keep the largest portion of the compensation.
Should you work with a solicitor from our panel, they can offer many services under the advantageous terms of a CFA, including:
- Assisting with the collection of evidence that will prove you suffered pressure sores due to medical negligence
- Taking note of the full impact you have experienced and arguing for your compensation to reflect this
- Organising an independent medical assessment to support your case (if you consent to this)
- Handling communication with the defending party on your behalf
Contact How Much Compensation
If you have any queries about pressure sore claims, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our dedicated advisors. They can assess how much compensation for pressure sores you may be entitled to and further explain the process. If you would like to proceed, an advisor may be able to connect you with one of the dedicated solicitors from our panel. Get in touch today to discuss further:
- Call our advice line on 0800 408 7826
- Complete an online enquiry form
- Use our online chat feature in the corner
More Information
Read our other guides:
- Find out how much compensation you could claim for a misdiagnosis
- Read about retained placenta medical negligence claims
- Visit our guide on nerve damage claims
External resources:
- Learn about pressure sores through the NHS website
- Read about the work of NHS Resolution, an arm’s length body of the Department of Health and Social Care
- Find out how to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Thank you for reading our guide on how much compensation for pressure sores you might be able to claim.
