Negligent vascular surgery at Betsi Cadwaladr University hospitals

BCUHB covers hospitals across three areas of North Wales.

Conwy and Denbighshire: Glan Clwyd Hospital, Abergele Hospital, Colwyn Bay Hospital, Denbigh Hospital, Llandudno General Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Ruthin Hospital.

Gwynedd and Anglesey: Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Alltwen, Bryn Beryl Hospital, Cefni Hospital, Dolgellau and Barmouth Hospital, Ysbyty Eryri, Tywyn Hospital, Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley.

Wrexham and Flintshire: Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Deeside Community Hospital, Chirk Hospital, Holywell Hospital, Mold Hospital.

In July 2021, the RCSE conducted a detailed review of 44 clinical records related to vascular surgery at BCUHB, acting on behalf of the health board. Their report, published in January 2022, identified a number of serious concerns, including inadequate record keeping, a lack of proper follow-up and aftercare plans, and questions about the overall quality of care that patients received. If you were treated during this period and recognise any of these issues in your own experience, it is worth speaking to our team.

A group action, sometimes called group litigation, brings together people who have experienced similar harm at the same provider or by the same person, allowing their cases to be handled together. This can make the process more efficient and can strengthen the overall claim. We will apply to the Court to register the group action and, where needed, apply for a Group Litigation Order. We then investigate the claims collectively, negotiate with the defendant, and work to secure a fair settlement for everyone involved. You will still be treated as an individual throughout, we will always focus on your specific circumstances and what you want to achieve.

Group action claims can take longer than individual cases, because of the additional steps involved in coordinating multiple claimants and dealing with the Court. The timeline will depend on the complexity of the case, how the defendant responds, and whether the matter proceeds to a settlement or a hearing. We will keep you updated throughout and make sure you understand what to expect at each stage.

We will guide you through what is needed. In most cases, the key evidence includes your medical records from the time of your treatment, details of any symptoms or complications you experienced, and any correspondence you received from the hospital. As part of the group action, we will also draw on the findings of the RCSE report and instruct independent medical experts to assess the care you received. You do not need to gather this yourself. we will do that on your behalf.

In most clinical negligence cases, you have three years from the date you became aware, or should reasonably have become aware, that your treatment may have been negligent. This is known as the date of knowledge. If you are unsure whether this time limit applies to your situation, please speak to us as soon as possible. We will assess your circumstances and tell you honestly where you stand.

Yes. We offer a free, confidential and no-obligation case assessment. If we take on your case, we will do so on a no win, no fee basis, which means you will not pay legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful. We will explain exactly how this works before you make any decisions.

From your first conversation with us, our focus is on making things feel clear and manageable. We will listen to what has happened, explain your options honestly, and take on the work of investigating and pursuing your claim. We will keep you informed at every stage and make sure you always have someone to speak to if you have questions. Where appropriate, we can also help you access support with your wider recovery needs.

We will look at all the options available but generally we deal with these types of cases on a No Win, No Fee basis so there is no financial risk to the clients. This means that we can pursue the claim for the group and they will be covered by this. Group actions can also reduce the risk as the terms which are given to groups tend to me more favourable than those who are not able to join a group action.

Collective legal action can provide various advantages, including, strength in numbers. Combining similar claims in a group litigation can enhance the overall impact and strength of the case. There are also cost sharing efficiencies. Participants in group litigation can share the costs of legal proceedings, making it more financially feasible for individuals. It can also be more efficient as group litigation in the England and Wales aims to streamline the legal process by consolidating similar claims, leading to increased efficiency and a potentially quicker resolution. It can in some cases also increased leverage; The collective weight of a group of claimants can provide increased leverage when negotiating settlements or pursuing a settlement. It can also be beneficial to the legal system speeding up the process by not having to deal with the claims separately.

Having a specialist lawyer can help speed up the process but they will also be well versed in navigating the group litigation process. Fletchers has a large infrastructure and deals with more medical negligence cases than any other firm in the UK and have a specialist group actions team who just deal with cases brought collectively.