Earlier this week, the government’s HSIB (“Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch”) published a telling report on the NHS care and detection of Cauda Equina Syndrome in England. It aimed to ‘support improvements in the timely identification and management of cauda equina syndrome (CES)’ through examining issues across the nation. 

 

Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency that can happen when the nerves found at the bottom of the spinal cord become compressed, and it can lead to permanent paralysis if not properly treated through decompression surgery.  

 

The investigation came after the identification of safety risks in the way that CES was being diagnosed and managed in June of 2018. It used a reference event in which a woman visited her local GP and hospital a total of 7 times showing symptoms of CES before being referred to an MRI scan. Only after this MRI scan was referred to the correct neurosurgery department. 

 

After being called in by an emergency ambulance, the patient faced further delays due to X-ray facilities being unavailable, before finally having surgery later that day. 

 

Essentially, the report found that while national standards state that an MRI must be done immediately for patients showing symptoms of CES, this is not happening in hospitals across the country. 

 

Below, our specialist solicitors for delayed CES diagnosis claims discuss what this report means, and how you could make a claim for a delayed diagnosis of CES. 

Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency, and it needs prompt and accurate treatment. This report highlights the importance of this. If your CES symptoms have been misdiagnosed as another medical issue, or doctors have not acted as quickly as they should have in obtaining an MRI scan and referring you to the necessary specialists, then you could be entitled to make a medical negligence Cauda equina syndrome misdiagnosis claim. 

As with many medical conditions and illnesses, the symptoms that Cauda equina syndrome many present itself are similar to that of other conditions. 

 

These symptoms include: 

 

 

If you visit your GP, a local hospital, or any medical professional showing these symptoms, and they are ignored, or an MRI scan is not offered to you, you could have a medical negligence claim for Cauda equina syndrome misdiagnosis. 

 

Or, if you are referred to an MRI, or to the correct neurological specialist, but face unnecessary delays in the process, then you could be entitled to make a delayed diagnosis claim for your Cauda equina syndrome. 

If you think that the diagnosis or treatment of your Cauda equina syndrome has been negligent in any way, be it through a missed diagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or delayed treatment, and you have suffered from further injury or illness as a result, then get in touch with our medical misdiagnosis solicitors today. Our NO WIN NO FEE Solicitors offer a free, no-obligation discussion with a medical negligence solicitor about your illness and potential claim. 

 

If we do accept your Cauda equina syndrome claim, then you are in good hands. Our team of medical negligence solicitors have a success rate in excess of 99%, and over 30 years of experience. 

 

If you are looking for a trustworthy, reliable medical negligence solicitors who will put the time and effort into your Cauda equina syndrome claim for medical misdiagnosis, then look no further than MG Legal. 

 

Simply contact us online, here, or by email at enquiries@mglegal.co.uk and hear back from a specialist solicitor the same working day.