We now hear from Sally-Ann Dickinson, who has discussed her role as a nursing consultant in personal injury and negligent cases.
With years of experience behind her, she points out ways in which the nursing sector could improve, in order to avoid litigation, and why she is often instructed as an expert witness during tough legal battles.
I work as a Nursing Consultant in Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Case work, Immediate Needs assessor and Rehabilitation Case Manager.
Previously, I have worked in the acute, community areas via the NHS, Charitable organisations, internationally and Private organisations. Currently, I work as an independent nursing and rehabilitation consultant within the legal field and as a CQC Specialist Adviser concerning acute ward needs, which are mainly surgical and community placements for rehabilitation and long stay clients.
Nursing Standards have not changed in the 20 years I have worked in the above roles and, in fact, the basic nursing care required for individuals in any setting is the same as it ever was.
What I have found working in the legal arena with clinical nursing issues is that it is the basic nursing care and communication approaches (or lack of them) that have become the elements that are often missed, causing people to then seek litigation assistance.
It is all well and good to have clinical and specialist skills but basic nursing skills seem to be disappearing, which then leads to a poor patient experience and unsafe practices. A return to basic nursing skills via courses for specialist nurses, returning nurses and newly qualified nurses would greatly help in this arena.
As a CQC Assessor, I would also advise all placements to ensure that their care planning is robust and completion of records show that care was given and very importantly reviewed and evaluated as to the effectiveness of the intervention. Time and time again this important and set standard is not complied with in the cases that I review, causing individuals to experience below standard care.
It is a challenge working in the legal arena for personal injury case work when your background is in nursing, first where your client is the patient and not a legal individual. I have found ensuring that the Claimant remains central to all proceedings, keeping open communication, advising on bespoke care, and treating people how you would wish to be treated yourself and /or as a member of your family, ensures high standards of assessment and evaluation at all times.
Following this philosophy, I have found I am equally instructed by Claimant and Defendant representatives year on year and have followed cases through to post litigation as a Case Manager where individuals have undertaken independent activities of daily living, returned to work and run their own homes.
Personally, having a rehabilitation background has allowed me to be able to look at a client’s needs from all angles and not just care for them, but enabling them to care for themselves with the correct support, housing and equipment provision which is vital in personal injury work not only for the individuals but for all the legal teams involved.
Looking forward, I plan to set up a help line for individuals which will offer advice and information on any aspects I and a team of specialist advisers could help with, such as disability or trauma and accident needs. The help line will also help people find a solicitor to represent their specific needs.
Contact Details
Company: Sally-Ann Dickinson RGN -Independent Nursing and Rehabilitation Consultant
Contact: Sally-Ann Dickinson
Contact Email: sallyann.dickinson@briarhouse.co.uk
Address: 5 St Giles Close, Holme, Peterborough, PE7 3 QZ, UK
Phone: 01487 830014
Sally- Ann Dickinson is an Independent Nursing & Rehabilitation Consultant, specialising in: Orthopaedics, fractures and surgery.
Spine and neck injury and surgery.
Head, brain and spinal cord disease and injury.
Neurological problems.
General surgery.
Accident and trauma surgery.
Nursing management and competence.
Nursing home registration and inspection.
Nursing home standards of care.
Disability rights and discrimination.
Physically disabled people.
Personal injury rehabilitation.
Requirements and costs of care, housing, equipment.
Analysis and quantification of personal care needs.
Medical, nursing care and housekeeping requirements.
Rehabilitation assessment and costing.
Case management (disability).
