Pressure sores arise particularly around the hip, bottom, ankle, elbow or heel.  They often affect vulnerable, elderly patients and those that are bed bound.

Pressure sores are graded between one and four, with one being a pinky red area with no broken skin, which are relatively straight forward to treat, and four being a deep, open wound surrounded by dead skin which requires extensive and often painful treatment. 

Patients think that if they are immobile or have reduced mobility then developing a pressure sore is an inevitable outcome. However, in the large majority of cases the pressure sore could, and should have been avoided. 

When you are admitted to a hospital, a nursing home, or are under the care of District Nurses at home, a risk assessment should be carried out to assess the potential for you to develop a pressure sore.  The assessment will take into account issues such as your age, general health and mobility.  If you are considered to be at medium to high risk of developing a pressure sore, then appropriate plans will be put in place to reduce that risk.  Unfortunately, this does not always happen and it is on these occasions that pressure sores can develop or are allowed to deteriorate when they could otherwise have been prevented.

It is widely accepted that if pressure sores develop, due to a failure on the part of healthcare providers to undertake appropriate risk assessments and to put in place appropriate care plans, then this may well constitute negligent medical care and you could be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries you have suffered.

If you, a family member or someone you know has suffered a pressure sore and would like more information on how to pursue a claim then please contact our Hull Clinical Negligence department, who are specialists in this area.