Shoosmiths LLP

Clinical negligence.

Andrea is head of the clinical negligence team in Northampton consisting of six legal advisors and two PAs. In 1998 Andrea was accepted onto the AvMA panel of specialist solicitors and has retained that accreditation ever since. Andrea sat on the legal aid assessment panel for dealing with appeals against decisions by the legal aid agency and continued to volunteer for this for four years.

Andrea is now a CEDR accredited mediator having completed the 5 day CEDR mediation course in October 2019.

Andrea has experience of many types of medical negligence case, including cerebral palsy/birth injury, obstetrics, gynaecology, vascular, amputation, cardiology, and delayed diagnosis of cancer, wrongful birth, neurological injury and cauda equina.

She regards her legal expertise primarily as the means to help rebuild the lives of people and their families who have been injured as a result of negligent medical treatment and maintains that it is important to provide support and understanding throughout the process as well as achieving the best outcome that she can for her client.

Work highlights

• Mrs Chaudhry deceased - this was a claim against Northampton General Hospital for delayed diagnosis of breast cancer which led to the early death of Mrs Chaudhry. The claim was for the pain and suffering of Mrs Chaudhry before she died and a claim for financial losses for her and her husband and children.
• Mrs Quadling - a claim was brought against Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation trust for the negligent insertion of a placebo contraceptive device which led to the birth of twins. Mrs Quadling recovered compensation for loss of earnings and pain and suffering.
• Mrs Meehan - recovered compensation for delay in diagnosing and treating necrotising fasciitis against Heart of England Foundation Trust. She was compensated for loss of earnings, changes to her home, childcare and for pain and suffering now and in the future.
• Mrs N - cauda equina injury caused during spinal surgery, colostomy required and stroke injury following surgery due to failure to treat atrial fibrillation. Client lost capacity to provide instructions and a litigation friend had to be appointed. Compensation included pain and suffering as well as a claim for care for herself and care she could not provide to her husband who was diagnosed with Parkinson's during the lifetime of the claim, the additional cost of holidays and activities were also included.
• Mrs Parkin - surgical injury to iliac vein which prevented her return to previous number of hours as a pharmacist and caused swelling and pain reducing her mobility significantly. Claim included provisional damages for the risk of ulcer development and potential loss of her leg. She claimed loss of earnings, care and additional costs of holidays to accommodate her mobility.
• Mr C- compartment syndrome injury to both legs causing foot drop and constant pain. The client could not play with his children and so his whole family were introduced to wheelchair basketball. The client claimed for care, the cost of adapted accommodation, a salt pod, case manager, loss of earnings and additional cost of holidays to see his family who live abroad in homes that do not accommodate disability.
• SXC - a child who suffered from cerebral palsy birth injury, judgment has been obtained as well as substantial interim payments to provide care, therapy and assistance to age 13 when he can be assessed for the rest of his life.
• Mr D - claim for failure to diagnose cancer leading to partial collapse of spine. Claim included care, loss of earnings and compensation for additional pain and suffering.
• Ms W and Mr B- claim for the loss of their child to Kawasaki disease as a result of the failure of the hospital to treat the disease when it was diagnosed. The claim settled at a mediation which allowed the trust to provide an oral apology and an explanation about what steps have been taken to prevent this happening again.

Testimonials from clients

Paul Cockerton - “Very impressive service, as much in the manner with which it was handled, as getting the best result for us.”

Mrs Meehan – “I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and all your team from myself and my family you have made a massive difference to our lives.”

Mr Chaudhry – “As I got the best possible service, I have no idea how you can improve your service. I am 100% behind the service I received. From the start to finish I/we were updated on what was going to happen.”

Mrs Coles – “Genuine empathy and interest in the case and in my daughter as a "real" person and not just a source of income.”

Andrea has been ranked in Chambers and the Legal 500 both individually and for her team for many years.

Andrea graduated with a Law degree from Manchester University and took the Legal Practice Course at Bristol Polytechnic prior to training as a solicitor

Andrea qualified as a solicitor in 1989 having joined a previous firm as a trainee where she gained experience in personal injury for both claimants and defendants. From 1990 onwards Andrea undertook only claimant work and increased her experience of medical negligence work and was then promoted to Associate Solicitor.

Andrea joined Shoosmiths in 1992 where she continued to gain experience in personal injury and clinical negligence, increasing her medical negligence practice and being made a partner in 1995. Andrea has subsequently specialised in clinical negligence cases only since 1996.

AVMA referral panel member since 1998; Community Investment Project Group.

Gordano Comprehensive, Portishead; Manchester University (1983-86 LLB (Hons)); Bristol Polytechnic (1987 Finals Course).

Reading, gardening, walking.