Month: September 2019

Congratulations Lauren!

This week we are celebrating Lauren Goldsworthy, EL/PL Fee Earner. After 6 years of solid grit and determination Lauren was notified that she had completely passed her CILEX and will be admitted as a fellow and awarded a practising certificate.

HUGE congratulations Lauren from everyone at Hampson Hughes!!

Commenting on her achievement, Lauren said:

”Today is the day I have dreamed of for so long. Today I received confirmation that I am to be admitted as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. 6 years ago I didn’t believe I would actually qualify as a lawyer, but I was determined to give it my best shot.

I couldn’t even begin to tell you how many times I wanted to walk away and threatened to not sit an exam because I didn’t feel ready, but I was taught from a young age that you should always try your best at whatever you do in life as your best will always be good enough.

All the sleepless nights seem worth it as I can honestly say I tried my best and the hard work has paid off. I can’t thank my partner, family, friends, colleagues and CILEx enough for the unwavering support they have all given me throughout this journey.

So, here is to the start of the next chapter in my career where I can proudly call myself a Chartered Legal Executive!”

Have you been affected by Sepsis?

Sepsis is the number one cause of death in the UK. The number of people who die from sepsis, each year exceeds all deaths from prostate, lung and breast cancer combined and yet, public awareness, although growing, is still relatively low.

Sepsis is a serious infection, and if left untreated or not treated quickly, it can lead to the failure of several and organs and in some cases fatality.

If you or a loved one have contracted sepsis and it wasn’t identified or treated at first stage, leading to further complications and long-term problems, you may be entitled to compensation. Hampson Hughes Solicitors can help you get the compensation you deserve. Compensation can help towards, rehabilitation, loss of earnings, prescription charges and more.

So what is sepsis?

Sepsis, sometime referred to as blood poisoning, is where the body’s immune system over reacts to infection and starts to fight healthy tissue and organs, leading to organ failure and death.

What causes sepsis ?

  • a chest infection causing pneumonia
  • a urine infection in the bladder
  • a problem in the abdomen, such as a burst ulcer or a hole in the bowel
  • an infected cut or bite
  • a wound from trauma or surgery
  • a leg ulcer

Sepsis can be caused by different germs, like streptococcus, e-coli, MRSA or C diff. Most cases are caused by common bacteria, which normally don’t make us ill.

Symptoms? 

The Sepsis Trust, is currently leading the way in the UK, in not only highlighting the effects of sepsis but also trying to effect changes in hospitals. The charity, focuses in the lead symptoms:

Slurred speech or confusion

Extreme shivering or muscle pain

Passing no urine ( in a day)

Severe breathlessness

It feels like you’re going to die

Skin mottled or discoloured

Symptoms in children

Over 25,000 children a year are affected by sepsis.

If your child is unwell with either a fever or very low temperature (or has had a fever in the last 24 hours), call 999 and just ask: could it be sepsis?

A child may have sepsis if he or she:

  • Is breathing very fast
  • Has a ‘fit’ or convulsion
  • Looks mottled, bluish, or pale
  • Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
  • Is very lethargic or difficult to wake
  • Feels abnormally cold to touch

A child under 5 may have sepsis if he or she:

  • Is not feeding
  • Is vomiting repeatedly
  • Has not passed urine for 12 hours

Carlos Lopez, director of Clinical negligence at Hampson Hughes Solicitors, commented:

“ Over recent years we have seen an increase in negligence cases, arising in a failure by hospital staff to diagnose and treat sepsis. Sadly in many cases this has involved death or serious life changes injuries. Early detection and treatment can save lives and we welcome world sepsis day, in helping to raise public awareness”

Hampson Hughes Solicitors and their experienced and dedicated clinical negligence team, have acted for many Claimants affected by sepsis. If you or a family member have been a victim of clinical negligence, contact us on , for a free initial consultation. During office hours, your call will only be dealt with a dedicated member of the clinical negligence team and we do not use call handlers or external agencies.

September Employee of the Month

HUGE congratulations to Rachel Simms, who has won Employee of the Month for September.

For all her hard work, Rachel will be rewarded with a £250 Liverpool One voucher.

Rachel has been nominated by the team because:

  • She stepped up whilst both Ian and Carlos were out of the office on leave, dealing with her own case load and providing support and guidance to new team members
  • Since joining the firm she has shown commitment, professionalism and has become an integral and fantastic member of the team.
  • Throughout August she has shown great resilience and strength in character and is always positive.

Also, congratulations to Kate Cottier, Carly Kinsella, Gary Doward, Lisa Kane, Louise Feeney, Leah Blaney, Phil Thompson and Sophie Doran for all being nominated. All nominees will be sent out on an afternoon out of their choice.

Keep up the good work everyone!

Foodbank Update

Hampson Hughes are proud to have teamed up with the North and South Liverpool foodbanks, via The Trussell Trust. And even more proud to have been able to so far, send 12 families on days out to Chester Zoo and Knowsley Safari, which they wouldn’t normally be able to afford due to personal circumstances.

Recently, we received such positive feedback from a family who we donated a Chester Zoo trip to…

”Just to let you know that at the end of the day yesterday, i took the tickets and vouchers round to the family who have gone to Chester Zoo today. The mum was full of thanks to all concerned. She said that they couldn’t thank you enough for giving the children such a positive end to their summer holiday. She had already told them about the day out, and said they are so excited. So, thank you”.

It is lovely to know that we helped them have a positive end to their summer holiday. We will continue to support the foodbanks with collection boxes around the office and are extremely grateful to all our staff for contributing!

If you would like to support the North and South foodbanks, the warehouse is currently short on:

  • UHT Milk
  • Instant Mash
  • Cold tinned meats/fish
  • Sachets of hot chocolate
  • Individually wrapped sweets/chocolate bars/crisps
  • Toiletries e.g. deodorant, shower gel, shampoo
  • Washing powder

You can drop off at any of the permanent collection points in the following supermarkets:

NORTH LIVERPOOL

  • Tesco – Old Swam & Deysbrook
  • Asda – Walton & Breck Road
  • Sainsburys – Rice Lane & East Prescott Road

SOUTH LIVERPOOL

  • Tesco – Mather Avenue, Park Road & Woolton
  • Asda – Speke & Smithdown Road

Without everyone’s donations and the amazing work the employees and volunteers do the food bank wouldn’t be able to exist.

Cancer patients in England ‘diagnosed too late’ due to staff shortages.

Cancer Research UK estimates that 115,000 cancer patients in England are diagnosed too late to have the best chance of survival.

Around 115,000 people who get cancer are already at stage 3 when it is detected, where the cancer may have started to spread, or stage 4, where it has reached other organs.

The government’s long-term plan for the NHS, sets an ambitious target of three quarters of cancers to be picked up early by 2028 opposed to 2 in 4. It has been calculated that by 2028, there will be an estimated 320,000 cancers, so at least 100,000 more will have to be caught early to hit the target.

This is virtually impossible due to staff shortages. Staff are working tirelessly to diagnose and treat cancer patients. But the governments inaction on staff shortages is crippling the NHS says Cancer Research UK.

Director of Clinical Negligence and Serious Injury at Hampson Hughes, Carlos comments: ”Bottlenecks in cancer diagnostic reporting is costing lives. The NHS can not cope with the increase in cancer referrals. Delays and misreporting has a devastating impact”

When facing cancer, a timely and correct diagnosis should be the first key stage in readying your mind and body to fight the disease.

Any time a patient receives a cancer misdiagnosis or late diagnosis from a GP, or other medical professional, the chance of them successfully beating the disease are considerably lower than those who receive an early and accurate diagnosis.

If you have suffered from delayed cancer diagnosis, Hampson Hughes can help. To help get the justice you deserve, call us on 0800 888 6888 or for more information, Click here.

Full source: The Guardian – Cancer patients in England ‘diagnosed too late’ due to staff shortages

Back-to-school safe driving reminders

As summer comes to a close, the new school year begins this week.

Drivers are preparing for the back to school traffic. The morning and evening rush will now be more congested – extra buses on the road, dropping school children off. Parents rushing the children to school, And, children racing to school on their bikes.

It has never been more important for road users to slow down and be aware of the road than when children are present – especially before and after school.

In 2017, it was reported that 48 child deaths happened in the UK related to road traffic accidents*.

Child fatalities are mainly pedestrians and car occupants; this is because these are the forms of transport most commonly used by children.

Overall, 15,721 child casualties took place in 2017 (ages 0-15). Although this is a 2% decrease from 2016, the number is still shocking.

  • 23% of these incidents took place between 3pm and 5pm on a weekday
  • 14% occurred between 7am and 9am on the weekday.

Across Merseyside, in the last 5 years, 348 children have been killed or seriously injured on our roads. 108 of these accidents happened in Liverpool*. The majority of them being pedestrians, closely followed by cyclists*

The new school term beginning can be a dangerous time for children and drivers as we adjust to the ‘back to school routine’. It will take some time to get back into the swing of things.

Remember, give yourself extra time, be patient and alert. But also –

Slow down – Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle travelling at 20 – 25mph is nearly two thirds less likely to be killed, compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle travelling just 10 mph faster*

Respect No Parking and No Stopping zones – The morning rush is real. You may think parking right outside of the school gates to let your child jump out is the quickest way to carry on with your journey. But, it is not the safest option for your child, hence the rules.

Do not overtake vehicles in a school zone – Over-taking almost always involves traveling faster than the apposed speed limit. This will reduce your reaction time and you don’t know if a child is going to dart out between parked cars.

The above rules are what we should all know. But as the school year starts, we are reminding you of the importance of sticking to them. ACCIDENTS CAN BE AVOIDED. Accidents can have untold consequences to you, emotionally and physically.

Slow down and be careful this school year.

Have you been involved in a Road Traffic Accident?

If you have been affected by a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to compensation. Start your claim today by filling out our short contact for here.

Our team of specialist RTA solicitors are always on hand to offer legal advice and support to those affected.

For more information please contact us on 0800 888 6888 or email [email protected]

Sources:

*https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/755698/rrcgb-2017.pdf

*http://www.travelindependent.org.uk/area_032.html

*http://www.travelindependent.org.uk/area_05.html

*https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/child-safety/schools-open-drive-carefully/#.XWf8L5NKhGM

£22,500 secured for fall over defective pavement

Hampson Hughes Solicitors have successfully secured £22,500 for a client after she sustained injuries when she fell over defective pavement on Hanover Street, Liverpool.

During the fall, Ms Collins fractured her humerus and suffered a loss of confidence when out and about. Her injuries were long-lasting.

At first, the defendant, Liverpool City Council initially offered £20,200 but the sum was negotiated up to £22,500.

Commenting on the successful outcome of her case, Ms Collins said:

Thanks to all the hard work from Nick and Sophie over the last two and half years, I am completely satisfied with the outcome of my claim. It was always dealt with professionally and they were helpful and kind when dealing with me in person. I would definitely recommend Hampson Hughes to anyone that needs a really reliable solicitor.

Slip, trip or fall incidents – expert compensation advice

If you have been injured in a slip, trip, or fall that was not your fault, you could be entitled to maximum personal injury compensation. Whatever the circumstances of your slip, trip, or fall claim, speak to our expert team of personal injury solicitors today to discover how we could help you.

Call 0800 888 6888 or send an email to .