Patient Claim Line are investigating the management of patients who were treated by the breast clinic within the Barking Havering and Redbridge University Trust. The treatment had a focus on surgery; treating breast cancer such as, mastectomy, resection and tumour removal (lumpectomy). At present, we it is understood that at least 40 patients have been part of an Invited Clinical Record Review which was carried by the Royal College of Surgeons. The Royal College of Surgeon is an independent objective body that have been asked to review and advise on the care provided. As such, they are an external assurance on clinical services and quality of care.
This review was conducted in May 2022 and highlighted potential issues with the care provided.
There are concerns over one particular unnamed surgeon. It is known that the surgeon in question had been practising for a number of years and concerns had been raised by a patient as far back as 2015.
Why talk to us about making a medical negligence claim?
Making a medical negligence claim is not just about getting financial compensation for something that was avoidable. It’s also a step towards ensuring that these poor practises and resulting suffering a prevented from happening to someone else. To ensure that there is no financial risk to you, we work on a solely No Win, No Fee basis, which means that if your claim is unsuccessful, there is nothing you have to pay.
Christian Beadell, who heads up the team specialising in helping groups affected by medical negligence, commented:
“Depending upon the stage of diagnosis, the treatment for managing breast cancer may include surgery. It is important that patients have a full and informed discussion about this treatment option which should include potential complications and likely outcomes. This should take place well in advance of the surgery and include a discussion of alternatives. We are frequently instructed by patients who have proceeded to surgery without a full appreciation of how this may impact them both physically and with regards to future treatment. Similarly, we have seen patients who have not had essential biopsy investigations carried which has adversely impacted on their treatment plan.”
Key allegations
Failure to document reasons for surgery
Possible inappropriate or unjustified surgery
Poor consenting processes
Failures to take biopsies where necessary
Not offering alternative treatment or suitable follow-up
Some issues over technical consideration of types of cancers and the best treatment options
What happens next?
If you have had treatment at the breast clinic of Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospital Trust and you are not sure whether to take legal action, you can speak to one of our expertt team of medical negligence solicitors who will provide a free, confidential, no-obligation case assessment.
Have you been impacted?
As a patient, doctors and other medical professionals are expected to provide the best possible care and advise of the options throughout the treatment. If this doesn't happen, it could be due to medical negligence and have lasting effects on the impact of a condition and the course of any future treatment.
Find out if you can claimOur team of experts will support you all the way
Our Group Actions team is led by Christian Beadell and Francesca Paul. They are supported by Sion Wynne, and a dedicated team of talented medical negligence solicitors. The team forms part of a wider medical negligence department, with Peter Rigby at the helm. Our Group Actions team specialises in bringing forward collective clinical negligence claims against an NHS Trust, and have a track record of successfully securing compensation for our clients.
Peter Rigby
Director of Medical Negligence
Peter leads the Medical Negligence Serious Injury department, which now boasts some of our most knowledgeable, dedicated and hardworking team members.
Peter is dedicated to supporting victims of catastrophic medical negligence injuries and endeavours to provide a clear and coherent approach to claims. He recognises the effects serious injuries can have and therefore ensures his customers’ need for support is met. Peter also has a vast amount of experience working with customers who have been injured abroad and is able to act under international law to provide the best outcomes.
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Christian Beadell
Partner, Head of Strategy and Legal Operations
Christian is Head of Medical Negligence at Patient Claim Line and has specialised in clinical negligence claims since qualifying in 1998; having dealt with a wide variety of claims throughout his career. He is also featured in the Legal 500 as a recommended claimant solicitor in the North West.
Christian qualified as a solicitor in 1998, specialising in clinical negligence. From 2010 onward he has had a particular interest in gynaecological and urogynaecological claims, having represented several hundred claimants in the George Rowland Litigation against the Liverpool Women’s and Aintree Hospitals. This investigated the treatment given to women in the Merseyside area over several decades, and in particular focused on the introduction and development of mesh into the UK in both the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. The development of this area involved pursuing claims under a unique ADR protocol with the NHS and also looking to develop the current thinking on the valuation of compensation for complex urinary symptoms. He has successfully recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation on behalf of my clients.
Christian was also involved in setting up and chairing a Claimant Support Group for those involved in the Rowland litigation, which provided a discussion forum for the many women who were left isolated and damaged by negligent gynaecological treatment. He now co-ordinates the firm’s mesh claims and has delivered training and commented extensively on the medico-legal implications of urogynaecological / mesh complications. He is a member of APIL, Liverpool Law Society and Legal 500 recommended.
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Francesca Paul
Associate Solicitor
Francesca Paul is an Associate, Senior Solicitor and Team Leader within the Clinical Negligence Department. She is one of the driving Solicitors in the Group Litigation Team dealing with this niche and specialist area of work that Fletchers undertakes.
Francesca previously worked in Nottingham, dealing with Group Action work. She now works at Fletchers, bringing with her those years of experience heading up a team of 10 people. Francesca is involved in the early identification of potential new Group Litigation Work and analyses information from the collective pool of new enquiries into the business, of which there are hundreds per week looking for hot spots or recurrent issues which might suggest a potential pool of Claimants.
One of the highlights for Francesca and her team is that they have successfully recovered over a million pounds in compensation for clients who have received treatment from a single orthopaedic surgeon who was operating in the Colchester area. Her role requires a specific set of skills, patience and a forensic approach to detail whilst being able to see the wider picture.
Francesca has previously acted for a claimant in a case that reached the Supreme Court in the case of NA v Nottinghamshire County Council.
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Sion Wynne
Senior Solicitor
Sion is a team leader and senior solicitor with many years’ experience in dealing with a wide range of medical specialisms and different types of injuries. He is an experienced medical negligence solicitor and manages a team of lawyers within our department.
Sion joined Fletchers in 2018 as a Team Leader in the Medical Negligence Department. Throughout his 24 year legal career, he has specialised in conducting medical negligence claims on behalf of Claimants, previously working for other highly ranked leading firms in the field.
He has undertaken claims covering the full spectrum of medical specialisms, clinical settings, categories of defendant and types of negligent medical care and treatment.
These include high value and complex maximum severity cases, such as those involving limb amputations and permanent neurological injuries.
Sion is experienced at representing bereaved families at inquests and has a particular interest in fatal accident claims.
Notable Cases
JI v Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust: £1.25m recovered for client left paraplegic after spinal anaesthesia.
RS v Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: £150,000 recovered for client in respect of a failure to recognise complications after a kidney transplant, where her father was the donor.
JN v MA: £100,000 recovered for a client who suffered 2 years persistent pain and disability after knee replacement surgery undertaken as a private patient.
CS v Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust: £400,000 recovered for a child who sustained Erb’s palsy during her delivery.
WO’C (Deceased) v Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; £450,000 recovered for the family of the deceased who died as a result of a delay in diagnosing a brain tumour.
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