Victims of medical negligence could be entitled to thousands of pounds in compensation, according to a Leamington solicitor who has appeared on BBC Watchdog as an adviser on personal injury.

Vivienne Elizabeth Williams, head of personal injury at Berrymans Solicitors, has extensive experience in the specialist area of medical negligence and has fought successfully for clients against NHS Trusts, private consultants and GP.

Throughout January and February she will be running a series of all-day drop-in clinics at the Rugby Road law firm. “These matters can be particularly distressing for clients,” said Vivienne, an active member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers who has acted for clients across the country.

Vivienne, who has appeared as an adviser on Sky’s Legal TV and BBC Watchdog, said her medical negligence case files included a wide range of actions. For example, when pregnancy or childbirth has not been properly managed, life-changing surgery as a result of misdiagnosis of cancer; missed fractures on x-rays; delays in treating injuries; failure to detect a brain tumour; even death resulting from being discharged from hospital post-surgery without adequate checks.

“The majority of these clients are in pain, face disruption in their life or have lost a loved one and they need to be treated with understanding, kindness and sensitivity.”

Most recently she has been acting for clients who have suffered with faulty hip replacements, winning compensation from the hip manufacturer with the operations having been carried out at Warwick Hospital, University Hospital in Coventry, Northampton Hospital, Horton Hospital, George Eliot Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary.

“Any patient who has undergone corrective surgery as a result of a faulty metal-on-metal replacement hip – mainly those using the DePuy Johnson & Johnson ASR product which has since been recalled from the market – could be entitled to as much as £20,000 in compensation.

“Clearly there has been enough evidence to suggest that some metal-on-metal hip implants were not fit for purpose and were failing at a much bigger rate than other types – and should have been banned. The warning signs were there for some time but no one acted and patients’ lives were bighted unnecessarily.”

Personal injury claims

As well as medical negligence, Vivienne has also advised in a wide variety of differing personal injury claims (often worth significant amounts for her clients), from road traffic accidents and tripping or slipping, to employment issues and accidents at work. She has also handled claims for bad holiday experiences, food poisoning, product liability, dental negligence and even
against hairdressers for damaging hair.

Richard Thornton, joint senior partner at Berrymans Solicitors, said: “Vivienne’s vast experience and wide knowledge of personal injury and medical negligence claims help her to always put each client’s needs first, and her attention to detail, analytical mind and ability to win arguments against her opponents give her an advantage over her competitors. She leaves no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice for her clients.”

Anyone wishing to attend one of Vivienne’s free consultation clinics should call 01926 831231 or email [email protected]

CAPTION: Vivienne Elizabeth Williams