Cauda Equina Syndrome NHS

Cauda equina syndrome is a rare condition, but even so it is one that the NHS should be able to diagnose and treat in a timely fashion.

If the NHS has failed to treat your cauda equina syndrome quickly enough or at all, please call us immediately on 0800 234 3300 or from a mobile click to call 01275 334030 or complete our Free Online Enquiry so that we can explain the action you need to take now.

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Treating cauda equina syndrome on the NHS

Cauda equina syndrome NHS is when the nerves at the bottom of the spine are compressed, usually due to a slipped disc. The condition is not a common one, but medical practitioners working for the NHS should be aware of it and have a thorough understanding of the symptoms.

If a patient is presenting the red flag symptoms of spinal nerve compression, the treating NHS doctor should appreciate the possibility of cauda equina syndrome and take steps to verify whether this suspected diagnosis is correct.

A physical examination should be performed to check for signs of nerve damage. A blood and urine test should also be carried out to rule out other problems, such as an infection. If the symptoms, examination and test results all point towards cauda equina syndrome, an urgent MRI scan should be organised by the NHS to confirm a diagnosis.

All this should happen within a reasonable amount of time – certainly within 48 hours of a patient being admitted. Once diagnosed, a patient should be sent for emergency decompression surgery at the earliest available opportunity. Failure to take this action by the NHS unit treating you can amount to negligence and lead to a successful compensation claim against the NHS.

Claiming against the NHS for cauda equina syndrome

The NHS does not always provide this level of care to patients presenting the symptoms of cauda equina syndrome. Instead a patient’s condition is misdiagnosed and he or she is discharged from hospital without any further tests being performed. Sometimes a patient is discharged without even having had a physical examination.

This delay in diagnosis and treatment will result in devastating consequences. Within a short space of time the nerves will become so damaged that they sustain an irreparable injury, leading to permanent neurological complications. If medical practitioners within the NHS are responsible for this delay – because they did not use their skill and expertise as doctors to identify the problem – there will be grounds for a medical negligence claim.

Legal advice when claiming against the NHS for cauda equina syndrome

If you would like to make a cauda equina claim against the NHS, you need to talk to a solicitor. At the Cauda Equina Solicitors we specialise in cauda equina claims and will be more than happy to help you claim against the NHS, fighting on your behalf to ensure you are awarded the compensation that you deserve.

Please call us free on 0800 234 3300, from a mobile click to call 01275 334030 or complete our Free Online Enquiry for a no cost, no obligation opinion.

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