We often act in cases where doctors fail to diagnose cancer in time, meaning that a person does not benefit from treatment until it is too late. In a recent case in the news, however, a woman was operated upon when there was, in fact, nothing wrong with her.

Elizabeth Dawes was informed by doctors at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton that a right breast biopsy had shown she had grade 3 invasive cancer requiring immediate treatment. She underwent surgery to remove the tumour and lymph nodes from her armpit.

Four days after the operation, however, her consultant admitted there had been a mix-up between three patients’ notes containing biopsy results and her own test had come back negative. She had effectively undergone painful, invasive surgery for no reason at all.

Mrs Dawes was left with extensive scarring and reduced sensation in her breasts, and left so traumatised that she quit her job as a breast care nurse at the hospital.

These instances of wrongful diagnosis can be more common than people think. I have acted for a client in the past who was told she had lung cancer and would need a major operation, involving significant reconstruction. She was given the ‘good news’ by her consultant that she had never in fact suffered from cancer at her follow-up appointment. The shadow on the scan that was interpreted as cancer (with no biopsy ever having been taken) was, in fact, just an infection.

The relief at being told that your cancer diagnosis was a mistake must be huge: only to be followed by a crushing sense of injustice when you realise that you have endured invasive, painful surgery for no reason at all.

CAPTION: Claire Kirwan, Head of the Medical Negligence & Personal Injury Department

Myton Hospice’s annual Santa Dash gets underway on Sunday (Dec 13) with runners, joggers and walkers donning their Santa suits for the 5k event.

The race gets underway at 9.00 am from the hospice in Myton Road and winds around St Nicholas Park with plenty of live music and refreshments along the way, including homemade cakes and hot drinks.
Among the runners will be a team from Blythe Liggins Solicitors, who have had the hospice as their chosen charity for many years, raising several thousand pounds.

Wills and probate paralegal Jessica McDonnell, who has organised a team of 12 from the law firm, said: “This is the latest event in which we plan to raise money for Myton and we are gathering as much sponsorship as we can.

“It really is a fun event for an extremely worthy cause and we are looking forward to it very much. Many of our team race in the annual Two Castles Run between Warwick and Kenilworth, which has been sponsored by Blythe Liggins for the past ten years, so we’re hoping to put in a good performance, ” said Jessica, who will also be running in next year’s London Marathon.

CAPTION: Paul England, Jessica McDonnell, Laura Farren and Emma Wallbank

The damning report into maternity services at hospitals within the Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust has led to a national review of maternity care.

NHS England have announced a major review into NHS maternity services as part of their NHS Five Year Forward Review. It has unveiled plans to look into efficient models of maternity services, ensuring that women and their families are given sufficient information and support to allow them to make safe and appropriate choices of maternity care and to ensure that the hospital staff are supported in order that they can provide responsive care.

The announcement follows an Investigation which was established in September 2013 by the Secretary of State for Health after concerns were raised by families following a number of tragic deaths and serious incidents during that time at hospitals within Morecambe Bay.

Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, said: “Having a baby can be one of the most joyous experiences you can go through and we know that the vast majority of women are happy with the maternity care they receive. But we also know great care isn’t everywhere. The time is right to take stock, and consider how we can best deliver maternity care safely in every part of the country, while better meeting the high expectations women and their families rightly have.

These plans are welcomed by the medical negligence team at Blythe Liggins.

Lois Harrison, a lawyer in the medical negligence team said: “The truly shocking findings from the Morecambe Report highlight a very real need for urgent attention to be given to the NHS maternity services, to ensure that patient safety and the expectations of new mothers and families are met across the country”.

Caption: Lois Harrison, Chartered Legal Executive

Thousands of patients have undergone early hip revision as a result of the Depuy ASR metal on metal hip replacements.

The manufacturer, Depuy, have recalled their ASR hip prosthesis from the market due to its high failure rates. The metal on metal design was intended to last longer than traditional hip replacements but instead it has caused thousands of patients to suffer with metal poisoning resulting in early revision surgery.

The symptoms include clunking, grinding, pain, pseudo tumours and fluid around the hip, raised levels of metal in a patient’s blood, muscle and bone damage.

If you have undergone early revision surgery or are due to as a result of the Depuy ASR metal-on- metal hip prosthesis, then you may be entitled to compensation.

There are time limits for bringing such a claim, however, and so do not delay – call us today for free, confidential advice.

Caption: Lois Harrison, Chartered Legal Executive

George Osbourne continues with what has been described as a “fiscally conservative plan”. The chancellor delivered his pre-election budget today (18th March 2015) stating that Britain is “walking tall again”. He continues to concentrate on reducing the deficit.

The chancellor threatens to bring in new criminal sanctions for those avoiding tax and penalties for their advisors. Tax evasion is already illegal and should be distinguished from legitimate tax planning so it is unclear exactly what the chancellor plans to introduce here.Mr Osbourne did, however, say that there will be a review on Deeds of Variation in the Autumn and the review will involve the opinions of many.

A Deed of Variation is a useful tool to redirect an individual’s inheritance under the terms of a Will or under the intestacy provisions when they don’t want to take benefit themselves. The deed enables an individual to pass the inheritance to another person without it being classed as a gift and without it ever forming part of their estate. Provided that the Deed is completed within two years of the date of someone’s death, it is an incredibly useful tax planning tool and it would be a shame if they are abolished.

Anyone who thinks they may benefit from entering into a Deed of Variation can contact the Wills and Probate team at Blythe Liggins for assistance.

Caption: Donna Bothamley, Head of the Wills and Probate Department

Dale Vince OBE and his ex-wife Kathleen enjoyed a new age traveller lifestyle after meeting at University. That was 34 years ago.

They married in 1981 and divorced 11 years later in 1992. They had one child.

During the marriage and at the end of the marriage, they were without capital and relatively poor.

Dale Vince went on to launch the green energy company Ecotricity. This happened after the marriage, and he became a multimillionaire. Kathleen played no part in his success.

Kathleen applied to the court more than 23 years after the divorce to seek the payment of a lump sum of £1.9 million. The claim has been allowed, but the lump sum is likely to be significantly less than £1.9 million (believed to be an amount that will enable her to rehouse herself in a suitable property free of mortgage).

Kathleen would have been prevented in bringing this claim had the parties, when they divorced in 1992 obtained a clean break order. This would have prevented either of the parties making a claim against the other in the future, no matter how wealthy or successful either became. It would have even have prevented a claim against the estate of the other if one of them died.

So the lesson to be learnt is that if you get divorced and even if you have no money at the time, you should still get a clean break order to protect you, should your financial position change in the future. If you do not, you could end up like the National Lottery paying out a fortune, but in this case, not selling their tickets to pay for it!

Caption: Andrew Brooks, Partner and Head of the Family Team

Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins, sponsors of the Two Castles Run between Warwick and Kenilworth, said all 4,000 places for this year’s event were snapped up in just three hours and 10 minutes – a record time.

Bob Kelly, press officer for organisers Kenilworth Rotary Club, said the online entry registration went live at 12 noon on Monday. “All the places had gone by 3.10 pm, beating last year’s previous record time of six hours, and leaving a waiting list that is growing.”

Richard Thornton, joint senior partner at Blythe Liggins which is sponsoring the event for the tenth year, said: “This was a fantastic effort. There has been an explosion of interest in this event over recent years and this record time of three hours reflects that. Kenilworth Rotary Club has done an amazing job yet again.”

Caption: The Blythe Liggins Team

The annual scramble for places in the Two Castles 10k run will take place at midday on Monday, March.
Each year runners battle to secure one of the 4,000 entries in this ever popular race between the castles at Warwick and Kenilworth.

Within hours of the registration going live online, all the places are snapped up and a waiting list of hundreds quickly builds up, according to organisers Kenilworth Rotary Club.

Race organiser Rotarian Philip Southwell said: “There is always a stampede for places as both the serious athletes and the not so serious recreational runners try to get their hands on an entry number. This will be our 33rd year and the race has never been more popular.”

This year’s event, which will be run on Sunday June 14, is being sponsored by Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins for the 10th consecutive year. Joint senior partner Richard Thornton said: “We have been the main sponsor since 2005 and have really enjoyed our involvement. Most members of the firm get involved, either as runners or marshals or even manning our water station.

“It’s been a fantastic event and I can’t praise Kenilworth Rotary Club enough for their organisation – and for raising more than £100,000 each year for charity.”

Anyone wishing to register should visit www.twocastlesrun.org.uk after midday on Monday March 2.

CAPTION: Blythe Liggins joint senior partner Richard Thornton (centre) joins Two Castles race organiser Philip Southwell (left) and Kenilworth Rotary Club president David Johnson.

Issued by Newsline PR. Tel 01926 888308

Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins have been awarded the Law Society’s special accreditation for conveyancing for the fourth consecutive year.

The Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) for those law firms with residential property departments is a quality benchmark that recognises excellent client care.

Blythe Liggins partner Tim Lester, residential property team, said: “It can often be difficult for homeowners to choose a firm of solicitors and schemes like this are incredibly useful. CQS accreditation can really help them to make an informed decision based on performance and quality, measured against an industry standard.”

CAPTION: Blythe Liggins partner Tim Lester with the Law Society’s accreditation.

Issued by Newsline PR. Tel 01926 888308

Former England rugby international Richard Moon is carving out a name for himself as a radio rugby pundit.

Richard, who lives near Stratford and is head of employment law at Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins, is summarising Wasps matches at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry for BBC CWR, following the former London club’s recent move.

“It’s great fun and keeps me in involved with the game,” said Richard, who has long been summarising and interviewing for BBC CWR at Coventry RFC matches, and appearing on the station’s regular RucknMaul rugby show with former Coventry player John Butler.

Richard played scrum half for England, the Barbarians and Cambridge University – where he played inside future England fly-half Rob Andrew, now the Rugby Football Union’s professional rugby director. Richard’s brother Rupert also played scrum half – for Wales.

Some of the Wasps matches are going out live on 5 Live Sports Extra, including Richard’s interview with BBC rugby correspondent Ian Robertson.

CAPTION: BBC radio rugby pundits Richard Moon (left) and John Butler.

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