Hudgell Solicitors

Clinical Negligence

Associate (Clinical Negligence)

Elizabeth is a medical negligence solicitor with more than 20 years’ experience who joined the team at Hudgells in 2020.  She runs high value cases and represent clients who have suffered serious injuries arising from medical accidents.

Elizabeth helps her clients and their families understand what went wrong as well as obtaining the maximum compensation awards they rightly deserve.  Her cases are often complex and she ensures detailed and thorough investigations are carried out to ensure her clients understand what has happened to them and why.

Elizabeth’s aim is also to ensure measures are put in place to prevent those medical accidents from happening again. Previously, Elizabeth represented doctors in medical claims so has valuable insight into how and why claims are defended, which is an advantage when representing her clients.

Career Highlights

I am currently supporting clients in relation to an ongoing investigation into the care provided to children at Great Ormond Street Hospital by orthopaedic surgeon Mr Yaser Jabbar. The treatment of 721 children who were treated by Mr Jabbar between 2017 and 2022 is now being reviewed after an initial Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) investigation raised concerns that children had suffered ‘serious harm’, including surgeries which there was no obvious justification for, and which brought them no clear benefit.

I represented a client who suffered a catastrophic stroke and cardiac arrest after an operation, leaving him severely disabled. Two Yorkshire hospital Trusts were jointly responsible for the treatment of my 74-year-old client.

We alleged the operation had been carried out without the patient or his family being fully informed of the risks involved, and without being informed that the benefits of surgery were small. Eventually a six-figure-sum for damages was agreed and the compensation will cover the cost of future care and nursing home fees.

When representing a family in Inquest proceedings, I succeeded in an application for Judicial Review against the Coroner. The coroner had made an unlawful decision regarding the conduct of a medical experts discussion which would have put the family at a disadvantage at the Inquest. I successfully challenged the coroner’s decision in the High Court resulting in an outcome which was fair to the family.

In another case I was able to secure a six figure damages award for my client who lost her vision due to a GP’s failure to refer her to hospital for timely treatment. I represent a number of clients who have suffered injuries at birth and clients who have had unnecessary amputations.

Secured £1m for a client who suffered injuries due to a delay in diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis. Secured £1m for a family who lost their mother and wife due to negligent failures to diagnose and treat a cardiac arrhythmia. Secured £1.7m for a client who suffered injuries due to a delay in diagnosis of a rare metabolic disease.

Law Degree ( LLB) University of Newcastle – upon – Tyne Legal Practice Course ( York )