Supporting Ophthalmology patients at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton

Updated July 2023

Our expert medical negligence team led by Christian Beadell, Head of Group Action, is currently supporting a group of claimants who suffered eye injury after ophthalmology treatment at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

Patients are given these types of injections to improve or stabilise their vision. An intravitreal injection is an injection of a drug into the vitreous body (the jelly in the eye). It is given through the sclera (the white of the eye). However, our clients have alleged that the needle caused damage to the eye’s lens, resulting in damage to their vision.

If you or a loved one has experienced similar issues, please speak to our team for a free, no-obligation consultation today.

Why might you need an intravitreal injection?

You might have been treated at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton for improving or stabilising your vision. While these injections may not fully restore vision that has already been lost, they can help slow or stop the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina caused by conditions like wet macular degeneration and diabetes.

The most commonly used drugs for intravitreal therapy are anti-VEGF agents such as Ranibizumab (Lucentis), Aflibercept (Eylea), and Bevacizumab (Avastin). These medications work by inhibiting the growth of blood vessels prone to leaking.

In addition to anti-VEGF agents, intravitreal therapy may also involve anti-inflammatory steroids like Ozurdex to reduce retina swelling in conditions like diabetic macular oedema, retinal vein occlusion, and ocular inflammation (uveitis).

How do I know if I am affected?

If you or a loved one have had an injection in your eye at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton during 2021, and following this treatment, your vision got worse, or you needed further treatment or even surgery following this injection, please get in touch with our expert team as soon as possible for a free no-obligation consultation.

How many patients are affected?

An external independent investigator was brought in by the hospital after reports from several patients that their vision had been affected following these injections. Their job was to determine what went wrong with the medical treatment and suggest what could be improved. They also checked to make sure everything was done properly.

According to the hospital, the locum consultant (a doctor brought in to fill the role temporarily) who performed the injections was stopped from doing this procedure. According to the report, the doctor no longer works in the hospital.

We understand from the hospitals’ investigation that 38% of the patients who underwent intravitreal injections by the locum consultant showed evidence of lens damage; with some having damage in both eyes. This is a far higher complication rate than expected. With this in mind, we believe the number of patients impacted could be significant, and urge anyone with concerns to come forward.

How do I pay for a legal case?

It does not cost anything to call us and ask us questions about whether you have a case. We offer free, no-obligation consultations with our expert team of lawyers, who can explain your legal rights and options.

We offer a no-win no-fee service if you have a claim and decide to take the case further. What this means is that it doesn’t cost you anything if you lose. If you win, you will take most of what is awarded, and we get paid a percentage for fighting your claim. We can explain this to you fully before you take a claim with Fletchers.

Why should I choose Fletchers?

Our expert team are already acting for a group of patients who believe they have suffered damage to their eyes following this procedure at New Cross Hospital. We are always stronger together, fighting as a group.

You can also be reassured that our team are experts in clinical negligence. The lawyers in the medical negligence team have fought many similar cases and are ranked among the leading lawyers in these types of cases.

‘The team at Fletchers combines genuine empathy and care to the client at all times with a thorough approach to legal analysis coupled with commercial awareness and real expertise in catastrophic injury litigation.’ – Legal 500 2023