Cancer Claims INJURY & NEGLIGENCE SPECIALISTS

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1 Cancer Claims INJURY & NEGLIGENCE SPECIALISTS

2 Injury & Negligence I have no doubt that without my solicitors help the outcome would have been very different. Quote about Pannone part of Slater & Gordon, from Mrs W (Lytham)

3 WELCOME TO PANNONE PART OF SLATER & GORDON When choosing a law firm, what do you look for? Quality service? Great reputation? Specialist solicitors at the top of their profession? Or simply friendly and approachable people? We offer all of these things. We focus on providing the highest standard of service with a personal touch that makes the difference. Our clients describe us as honest, professional and committed and in the words of the Legal 500 independent legal guide, we are excellent in every way, and never falter in support and availability. Our lawyers are easy to talk to and will keep you fully updated with no legal jargon. Whether you are entitled to legal aid, no win, no fee or legal expenses insurance, we ll find a way to fund your claim and fight for you. This booklet explains how to make a cancer related claim. Call us on to set up a free consultation. Emma Holt National Manager of Specialist PI 03

4 Injury & Negligence WHAT CAN CAUSE A DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER? A delay in diagnosis can occur for many reasons and the following are more common: GPs failing to arrange investigations/tests or referral to hospital Hospital doctors failing to investigate symptoms eg with CT/ MRI scans, blood tests Misreporting of X-Rays, CT/MRI scans, smears or biopsies GPs and hospital doctors failing to communicate test results INJURIES CAUSED BY A DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS The effect of a delay in diagnosis or a misdiagnosis is dependent upon the location of the tumour, the type of cancer, the grade of the tumour and the stage of the tumour. The grade of the tumour relates to the level of abnormality of the cells and how aggressive the tumour is. The stage of the tumour relates to how far the tumour has spread and is often expressed in terms of the TNM staging system to denote whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and/or whether there are secondaries.

5 The following types of injury may occur where there has been a delay in diagnosing or appropriately treating cancer: The cancer may be more advanced, eg spread to the lymph nodes and/or secondary metastatic spread to other organs The tumour may have grown larger resulting in the need for more extensive surgery such as mastectomy, rather than lumpectomy in breast cancer General health may have been affected as a result of more extensive surgery or more advanced cancer resulting in the need for increased care and equipment Death may have occurred which could have been prevented with earlier treatment and a claim may arise for family members as a result (please see our separate guides relating to Fatal Claims and Inquests) Their knowledge and experience are remarkable; they have a vast understanding and their negotiating skills are excellent. Quote from Chambers (Independent Legal Guide) 05

6 Injury & Negligence MAKING A CLAIM Gill Edwards, Principal Lawyer in our Clinical Negligence Team, explains the process with making a cancer related claim. We know from years of experience how an injury can change your life and affect your family. We are here to support you. Our specialist solicitors will fight to prove your case and to get you the best possible result. Talk to us Call us for a free no obligation consultation with one of our team which includes a qualified nurse and a midwife. We can discuss what has happened to you or your loved one and how we can help. Funding a case We understand that the cost of legal advice can be a worry, but if you do have a claim there are a number of options available to fund your case including no win, no fee and in some cases legal aid. For more information on funding options, please ask for our funding booklet.

7 Gill Edwards is understanding and very compassionate Quote from Chambers (Independent Legal Guide) Gill Edwards, Principal Lawyer, Clinical Negligence Investigation For your case to succeed, we have to prove that your injury or condition was the fault of another person. In a case of medical negligence, we have to prove the care provided was so bad that no reasonable doctor would have treated you in that way. We will work with you to gather the evidence to support your claim. This will include taking witness statements, obtaining relevant documents including medical records and instructing independent experts to report. Support during your case We are specialist solicitors who are classed as leaders in our field of law and we are here to provide you with support and guidance throughout your case. In some cases, where we have proved the defendant was at fault, we can obtain financial assistance for you in the form of an interim payment of compensation. Interim payments can help with the cost of private medical treatment such as surgery or counselling and in some cases the money can pay for rehabilitation, adapted accommodation, equipment and professional care. Continued over 07

8 Injury & Negligence Medical cases In addition to helping people who have suffered injury due to poor medical care, we also have expertise in advising families on other health issues, such as obtaining access to medical treatment to your illness or condition; the withdrawal of life support; care in the community and claims under the Human Rights Act. We have taken cases to the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords, the Supreme Court and the European Court of Justice. We strive to help our clients achieve justice and we are not afraid to push legal boundaries. Time limits You must make your claim within 3 years of the date of the negligence or your date of knowledge that you have suffered a significant injury due to the negligence. If you leave it longer than this, you may lose the right to make a claim. Different time limits may apply if the negligence happened abroad. The time limit for bringing a claim under the Human Rights Act is 1 year. The time limits for children do not run until they reach 18 years of age. In cases where a person may lack mental capacity, there is no time limit to bringing a claim.

9 I can t thank my solicitors enough for all the hard work they put into my claim Quote about Pannone part of Slater & Gordon, from Mrs Butler (Reading) 09

10 Injury & Negligence A quality service by professional people who are committed to delivering results - and who are friendly and easy to speak to. Angela Wrobel, The Genesis Appeal (Cancer Charity) Angela Wrobel

11 CONTACT US Highest quality advice (ranked in top tier by leading independent legal guides Chambers and Legal 500) Free no obligation consultation Experienced specialist solicitors and principal lawyers who are Leaders in their field Range of funding options including no win, no fee and in certain cases Legal Aid National UK coverage and home visits For more information, or to discuss your claim, please contact us on jane.whitaker@pannone.co.uk Pannone part of Slater & Gordon have offices nationwide. To find For further information, please go to:

12 For more information, please contact Jane Whitaker on or Slater & Gordon (UK) LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.