8 April 2021
A common misconception about bringing a claim for medical negligence or personal injury is that it is just about money.
Whilst obtaining compensation is an important part of a claim, the purpose of a claim is much more wide ranging. Possibly the most important aspect of bringing a claim is being able to help to improve the quality of life of the person who has been injured and of their families.
There are various ways that we can do this and one such way is arranging rehabilitation. When you have suffered a serious injury, such as a brain injury, stroke, spinal injury or complex trauma including an injury resulting in a limb amputation, this will have life changing consequences, such as in respect of everyday activities, ability to work and ability to get around independently.
Whilst rehabilitation cannot necessarily completely reverse the damage caused and bring about a complete return to normal life, it can ensure that the fullest possible recovery is made and ensure the best possible quality of life and level of independence.
It is a collaborative process where the injured person and their family and friends are able to have input. They work with those providing the rehabilitation to ensure that the process is tailored for the individuals needs and their goals. This in turn empowers the person undergoing the rehabilitation and ensures the best possible results. Arranging such rehabilitation on a privately paying basis is of course expensive but if admissions of liability can be secured from the Defendant to the claim, funding for the rehabilitation can be obtained from them.
By way of example of this, we are currently assisting an individual who suffered an avoidable amputation of their leg above the knee and we are arranging for them to undergo intensive rehabilitation as part of the claim. For this individual, they are opting to undergo this rehabilitation as an inpatient at a rehabilitation unit called STEPS, which can provide:
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- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Acupuncture
- Psychological therapy
- Neurological therapy
- Prosthetic input
It is very much the hope that this is going to result in very positive changes to the individual’s life, so that they are able to live more independently and return to doing the activities that they used to do before their injuries, such as exercising and socialising. During the inpatient rehabilitation, the individual will receive the maximum level of support and assistance to help with building confidence and generally improving their health and fitness. The aim is for the patient to be better equipped for a return to their home environment and indeed, after the inpatient rehabilitation, there will be ongoing input, whether by way of further inpatient input or outpatient input.
For further information about STEPS, please follow the link here.
Likewise, there are a number of other rehabilitation units across the country, who can similarly help.
If you have suffered avoidable injuries, whether due to medical negligence or personal injury, and would like to explore the potential for rehabilitation as part of a claim, please contact our experienced team on (01482) 323697.
