Meningitis Negligence Claims

Potter Rees Dolan’s expert team of specialist solicitors are here to help you claim the compensation you deserve if mistakes made by medical professionals have resulted in a delayed or missed diagnosis of meningitis for you or a loved one.

We know what you are going through - and we realise that your world has been turned upside down due to mistakes made by those that you would normally trust.

We work with people experiencing similar situations to you every single day, and we are dedicated to providing expert support, legal advice and care to those affected. Because we know how devastating this illness can be, we will work tirelessly to get you the answers and the compensation you deserve.

Our highly reputable clinical negligence team includes Helen Dolan, Lesley Herbertson, Helen Budge and Gill Edwards, who have almost 80 years’ combined legal experience between them. Several members of the team have been featured in the prestigious Legal 500 and Chambers guides, underlining the strength of their reputation.

Our team offers a highly personal service, and we strive to give clients a voice when things have gone wrong and their health has suffered due to medical negligence. We are also dedicated to improving standards in healthcare across the UK.

Speak to our caring and supportive team of solicitors today by calling 0800 027 2557; alternatively, if you’d like one of our solicitors to call you back, please fill in the contact form on the side of the page.

Testimonials

“Dealing with solicitors and legal matters can be very daunting. You made the experience very easy, and in a friendly manner. Thank you very much.”

Mr and Mrs L, Glossop

“Friendly, understanding, clear and accommodating. Took the time to explain rationale for decisions and legal processes. Exactly the right balance of direction and recommendation. Very personable service, can't fault the service, from receptionists to solicitors to specialist help.”

Mrs B, Turton

Read more testimonials from our clients here.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection affecting the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. When a diagnosis is missed or delayed, the consequences can be extremely serious - potentially even fatal.

The name ‘meningitis’ refers to the inflammation of the covering and lining of the brain, and can be caused by either a bacterial or viral infection. In general, bacterial meningitis is much more serious, and without immediate care and antibiotic therapy, it can be fatal or cause devastating brain damage. Cases of bacterial meningitis are rapidly reducing, however, due to the widespread use of the Hib and meningococcal vaccines.

The bacteria responsible for meningitis reach the brain through the bloodstream from an initial site of infection, commonly in the nose or throat. Most bacterial meningitis is caused by three types of bacteria:

• Haemophilus
• Meningococcus
• Pneumococcus

These bacteria are commonly found in the nose and throat of healthy people, but occasionally this can get into the bloodstream. When the body’s own defences do not stop the infection at this point, blood poisoning - also known as septicaemia - is common. This can be very dangerous, and the toxins produced by the bacteria can cause severe damage to the organs and tissues, which then causes meningitis.

If the illness is not diagnosed and treated quickly enough or correctly, it can cause lasting damage and, in some cases, lead to the death of the patient.

Can I make a meningitis negligence claim?

If you or your child have experienced delays in your meningitis diagnosis, or substandard care has meant symptoms were missed or dismissed by a medical professional, you may be entitled to compensation.

How can I pursue a meningitis negligence claim?

Potter Rees Dolan’s clinical negligence team has earned a reputation as one of the very best in the UK. Boasting many decades of combined experience in serious injury law and comprehensive medical insight, the team has an unwavering dedication to helping families recover the compensation they deserve.

About Helen Dolan, head of the department, Chambers 2019 says: "Helen regularly handles complex claims, such as those related to psychiatric care. She has further expertise in spinal injury, surgical negligence and cerebral palsy claims, as well as breach of duty cases. One source states: 'Her attention to detail and knowledge of the case inside and out was exemplary.’”

The same publication said Lesley Herbertson “is very good on the complex details of the case and is able to translate this to clients".

Meanwhile, Gill Edwards is described as being "incredibly good with clients - they really warm to her - and very good on the medical details".

The Chambers 2019 guide also offered praise for our clinical negligence team as a whole, calling it a “well-regarded team with an impressive caseload of complex clinical negligence work” and citing sources that highlight the "really nice, bespoke, high-quality" service we have to offer.

Our clients regularly tell us that it is the empathy and care with which we act that sets us apart. We specialise in serious and catastrophic injuries, so we know how difficult it can be to live with severe disability or illness. It is our aim, therefore, to make the claims process as stress-free for you and your family as possible.

Funding a meningitis negligence claim

The majority of meningitis negligence cases are funded on the basis of a “no win, no fee” arrangement, also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. We can investigate your potential claim and you will not have to pay any costs if the case is not successful; the details of how this arrangement works will be explained to you during our first meeting.

You may already have the benefit of a legal expense insurance policy, and we will always start by looking into whether you can use this same policy before considering whether a Conditional Fee Agreement is more appropriate.