Never Events are serious incidents in healthcare that should never happen. They're called Never Events because specific safety recommendations and guidance are in place to make sure they can be prevented. These recommendations are readily available at a national level and should be used by all healthcare providers.
The NHS has a designated list of incidents that could be classed as Never Events.
Anything classed as a Never Event has the potential to seriously harm somebody. In some cases, a Never Event could result in death. An incident doesn’t need to cause serious harm or death to be classed as a Never Event.
Never Events may bring to light possible weaknesses in a healthcare organisation’s safety processes. The NHS framework for preventing Never Events should be upheld by all healthcare providers.
Never Events can occur in a wide range of circumstances. Some of the most common examples include:
- Wrong implant/prosthesis
- Retained foreign objects after a procedure, such as part of a drill or guide wire
- Wrong site surgery, such as operating on the wrong leg or removing both ovaries/testes when only one should have been removed
- Misplaced nasogastric (NG) or orogastric tubes and then feeds administered
- Medicine given the wrong way, such as oral medicine being given intravenously
- Transfusion or transplants being incompatible with a person’s blood or organs
- Falls from poorly restricted windows.
The NHS has published a full list of incidents that could count as a Never Event.
We have vast experience in handling Never Event claims for compensation. We can advise you on incident reports created by the NHS and bring a claim against the healthcare provider responsible.
We’ll then work to make sure you get every penny you deserve in compensation.
In the tragic event of a death, we can represent you at an inquest. We’ll put questions to the healthcare provider in charge of your loved one’s care and ensure you get the answers you need.
Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you claim.
Because the circumstances around each Never Event are unique, there isn’t a set period your claim will be settled in. Certain factors will also influence how long it takes to settle your claim.
Because there’s a clear framework on how to prevent Never Events, healthcare providers often admit responsibility early in the process. However, we’ll need to establish and prove that the injuries you’ve sustained were caused directly by the Never Event.
We’ll also need to know the prognosis for how much ongoing care and/or treatment you’ll need in future. It’s important we know this so we can get you as much money in compensation as possible. We’ll bring in the services of medical experts who’ll be able to accurately assess this.
We'll also fight to get you interim payments, which are made before your claim's settled. Interim payments can help you to pay for treatment you need straight away. They can also compensate for loss of earnings if you've been unable to work because of the Never Event.
Never Event claims differ widely from case to case. For this reason, it’s difficult to put a value on exactly how much your claim could be worth.
Contacting us is the best way to learn more about how much you could get in compensation. After a free initial consultation, where you’ve told us about the incident, one of our experts will be able to value your claim.
