Pressure Sore Claims

Pressure sores — also known as bedsores or pressure ulcers — are one of the most distressing and preventable forms of harm that can occur in a hospital or care home setting. When they develop as a result of inadequate care, you or your loved one may have a valid pressure sore claim for medical negligence compensation.

At Curtis Legal, we specialise in pressure sore claims on behalf of clients and their families across England and Wales. We act on a no win, no fee basis, so there is no financial risk to you in pursuing a pressure sore claim.

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What Is a Pressure Sore?

A pressure sore develops when sustained pressure on an area of skin restricts blood flow to that area, causing the tissue to break down. They most commonly affect bony parts of the body — the bottom, sacrum, hips, heels, elbows, shoulder blades and the back of the head — where skin lies close to bone with less protective padding.

Pressure sores are graded in four stages of increasing severity:

Stage 1 — Early skin changes. The skin remains intact but appears red or discoloured. The area may feel warm, firm or itchy. Crucially, the discolouration does not fade when gentle pressure is applied — the skin fails to blanch. At this stage, prompt repositioning and care should prevent any further deterioration.

Stage 2 — Superficial open wound. The outer layer of skin has broken down, creating a shallow open wound or blister. Infection is likely. The sore will be painful and may produce fluid or pus.

Stage 3 — Full thickness skin loss. The wound extends down into the layer of fat beneath the skin. The sore has grown in size and is visibly infected. Without intervention, it will continue to worsen.

Stage 4 — Deep tissue and bone damage. The ulcer penetrates into muscle, tendon or bone. There is a very real risk of the infection spreading systemically, potentially causing sepsis — a life-threatening condition. Mortality rates among NHS patients reaching this stage have been reported at between 22% and 37%.

The critical point is this: pressure sores should not progress beyond Stage 1 when proper care is in place. Their development at any stage beyond that raises serious questions about the standard of care provided — and may form the basis of a valid pressure sore claim..

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Who Is Most at Risk of Pressure Sores?

Pressure sores occur almost exclusively in people who are immobile or unable to reposition themselves without assistance. Those at highest risk of developing pressure sores include:

• Elderly patients in hospitals or residential care homes
• Anyone with limited mobility due to disability, surgery or serious illness
• People living with dementia or other cognitive impairment, who may be unable to communicate discomfort
• Patients recovering from procedures that involve prolonged immobility, such as surgery under general anaesthetic
• Those with underlying conditions such as diabetes, poor nutrition, anaemia or peripheral vascular disease, which impair the body’s ability to withstand and recover from pressure

The NHS estimates that between 4% and 10% of patients admitted to hospital develop pressure sores during their stay — a figure that represents thousands of people every year, the vast majority of whom should never have been affectedents thousands of people every year, the vast majority of whom should never have been affected.

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When Do Pressure Sore Claims Succeed?

Not every pressure sore automatically gives rise to a claim. However, a pressure sore claim is likely to Not every pressure sore automatically gives rise to a claim. However, a pressure sore claim is likely to succeed where the care provided fell below the standard that a responsible healthcare professional would have delivered.

Every hospital and care home has a duty to:

• Carry out a documented risk assessment when a new patient or resident arrives in their care
• Implement a care plan for anyone identified as being at risk, including regular repositioning and the use of appropriate specialist equipment such as pressure-relieving mattresses and cushions
• Conduct regular skin checks and monitor any early signs of deterioration
• Review the care plan if a patient’s condition changes
• Ensure they have sufficient, properly trained staff to deliver that care

Where any of these steps are missed, poorly documented or not followed, and a pressure sore develops or worsens as a result, there may be strong grounds for a pressure sore claim. We will assess the medical records carefully to determine whether the standard of care was adequate and advise you honestly on the strength of your case.

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What You Should Do If You Suspect Negligence

If you are concerned that a loved one has developed pressure sores due to inadequate care, there are steps you can take right now to protect your pressure sore claim.

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What We Need to Prove in a Pressure Sore Claim

To bring a successful medical negligence claim for pressure sores we will need to establish three things:

Duty of care. The hospital or care home had a legal duty to provide a proper standard of care to your loved one. This is almost always straightforward to establish once the care relationship is confirmed.

Breach of duty. The care provided fell below the standard a reasonable, competent healthcare professional would have provided. This is established by examining the medical records and, where necessary, obtaining an independent expert medical opinion.

Causation. The breach of duty directly caused or materially contributed to the harm suffered — in this case, the development or worsening of the pressure sore.

The time limit for bringing a pressure sore claim is generally three years from the date of the injury, or three years from the date you first became aware that the injury was caused by negligence. Where a loved one has since passed away, different rules apply and you should contact us promptly.

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Pressure Sore Claims — Compensation Outcomes

EveryEvery pressure sore claim is different, and the amount of compensation awarded will depend on the severity of the pressure sore, the degree of suffering caused, and the specific failings in care. To give you an idea of the outcomes we have achieved for pressure sore claims:

• A client from Grimsby who developed a Grade 3 pressure sore to the sacral area during a hospital admission received a settlement of £16,000
• A client from Essex with a Grade 3 heel pressure sore following hospital admission received £24,000
• A client from the West Midlands who developed Grade 4 pressure sores received a settlement of £26,500
• A client from West Sussex was awarded £20,000 for a heel pressure sore that developed following hip surgery
• A client from Middlesex received £8,000 for a pressure injury to the heel
• A client from Wales received £8,000 for a pressure sore that developed during hospital treatment

These are examples only and should not be taken as an indication of what your pressure sore claim would be worth. We will always give you a realistic assessment once we have reviewed the facts of your case.

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Our No Win, No Fee Promise

We act exclusively on a conditional fee agreement — commonly known as no win, no fee. This means:

• There are no upfront costs to pay
• If your pressure sore claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing — we write off all the legal costs incurred
• If your claim succeeds, we recover our base costs from the other side, and under the terms of the agreement we are entitled to a success fee. This is capped at 25% of the damages awarded, and certain elements of your compensation — including any award for future care or treatment — are ring-fenced so you receive 100% of those amounts
• We guarantee that in the event of a successful outcome, you will receive at least 75% of the total compensation awarded

There is no financial risk to you at any stage of your pressure sore claim.

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What Our Clients Say

“The service I received was excellent. The person who dealt with the case was very helpful and I would have no hesitation in recommending your services.”

“Excellent service throughout. The person who dealt with my matter was excellent and very helpful. I was very happy with the time it took and the outcome. There was no fuss and no trouble and not much work to be done by me as Curtis Legal did all the work on my behalf.”

“The service that I received was excellent with good solid advice. The person dealing with the matter was great support and very helpful. I would definitely use your service again but I hope I don’t have to.”

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Frequently Asked Questions About Pressure Sore Claims

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Speak to Simon Jenkins and the Team Today

If you believe a pressure sore has developed as a result of inadequate care, do not wait. Time limits apply to pressure sore claims and early action preserves the best evidence.

Call us free on 0800 214 216 for a confidential conversation with no obligation. Alternatively, email [email protected] or complete our online enquiry form and we will call you back the same day.