Local solicitors are to staff a new clinical negligence helpline launched on March 10 for patients involved in medical accidents.
Jennifer Lowe and Kevin Saul, who work with Walker Smith Way’s specialist clinical negligence team, will work two days a month on the new Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) helpline in Manchester.
AvMA is the only source of specialist support for people who have been affected by medical accidents, advising them of their rights and options, explaining what to do next and putting them in touch with other sources of specialist help, including solicitors where necessary. It is estimated that there are around 1 million medical accidents in English hospitals alone each year, many of which are perfectly avoidable.
Kevin Saul said: “The helpline will take calls from people wanting advice on handling concerns over their medical treatment.
“I’ll be able to assist them with any legal enquiries, advise them on finding a suitable solicitor and offer them support with their complaint.
“Some people will have a legal case to pursue while others will need assistance with the NHS complaints procedures.
“Frequently patients in a medical accident case don’t want to take legal action but simply require answers and an apology.”
The firm, one of the largest in the region, employs more than 170 people at its two offices in Chester and Wrexham.
It has helped clients successfully claim financial compensation ranging from £2,000 for minor injuries to nearly £5m for very serious injuries.
In 2002 AvMA set up a patient helpline in Croydon. It now handles approximately 2,500 calls per year, mostly from the South East of England.
It is hoped that the launch of a northwest helpline will raise awareness of the issues throughout the region.
Jennifer Lowe said: “The new helpline is needed to handle the increased volume of calls into Croydon.
“It’s hoped that more people from the North West and North Wales will contact the helpline now it’s staffed by local solicitors.”
AvMA believes that whatever the cause of a medical accident, the people affected deserve explanations, support, and where appropriate, compensation.
AvMA helpline coordinator, Steven Liddiard, said: “We are very grateful to Walker Smith Way for supporting the work of the charity.
“We are expecting up to 30 calls per day. About one third will require some form of legal input and a small proportion of those will develop into full legal cases.
“We have rules in place meaning the volunteers themselves will not be able to refer patients to their own practice.”
A total of twenty solicitors from firms across the northwest will staff the phone lines open Monday to Friday, 10am-12noon and 2pm-4pm.
