Pressure sores and wound care: when might poor care be negligent?
How risk assessments, repositioning, equipment, wound monitoring and escalation may be reviewed when a pressure sore causes avoidable harm.
Read article →Medical negligence law is fact-specific. This article explains general principles in accessible language and is not a substitute for advice on an individual case.
Important: Do not delay seeking advice because of information on a website. Limitation can be complex and depends on the individual circumstances.
What is care-home clinical negligence?
Care-home residents may receive personal care, nursing care and input from external health services. A claim can require careful separation of each organisation’s responsibilities.
Poor service or an upsetting incident does not automatically establish negligence. There must generally be a failure to provide reasonable care and a causal link to avoidable harm.
Signs that care may need reviewing
Families may notice an unexplained change in health, repeated falls, missed medicines, weight loss, dehydration, pressure damage or delays obtaining medical help. These signs justify questions but do not decide liability.
- Deterioration not recorded or escalated
- Risk assessments not updated after a change
- Medication administration gaps
- Poor wound, nutrition, hydration or continence care
The importance of a complete chronology
Care-home notes should be considered with GP, hospital, ambulance, community nursing and pharmacy records. Together they may show when the resident changed, what staff observed and when help was requested.
Complaints, safeguarding and claims
A provider complaint or safeguarding enquiry can address concerns and may produce relevant evidence. A civil claim has a different purpose and still requires proof of breach of duty and causation.
Who can make an enquiry?
A relative can raise an initial concern. Formal authority to act depends on the resident’s capacity, any valid power of attorney, representation after death and other individual circumstances.
About this article
This article provides general information. The assessment of a medical negligence claim depends on the treatment, harm, dates and supporting evidence in your individual case. Contact us if you would like the firm to consider your circumstances.
