Pressure Sore Claims Solicitors

What is a Pressure Sore Claim?

A pressure sore claim, also known as a bed sore or pressure ulcer negligence claim, is a form of medical negligence claim brought against a hospital, care home, NHS Trust, or individual healthcare professional responsible for a patient’s care. Pressure sores occur when skin and underlying tissue is damaged through sustained pressure, typically because a patient has been left in the same position for too long without appropriate intervention or if, for example, something (a bandage or a boot or such like) has been left for too long.

Serious pressure sores (grade 3 and grade 4) are almost always an indication of a failure in the standard of care. The NHS estimates that nearly half a million people develop pressure ulcers in the UK each year, and the majority of serious cases are considered preventable with adequate monitoring, repositioning, and risk management.

Types of Pressure Sore We Handle Claims For

Pressure sores are classified into four grades, each reflecting the severity of tissue damage. Understanding which grade applies to your situation helps determine the strength and likely value of your claim.

Grade 1 — Surface-Level Skin Changes

Grade 1 pressure sores are not open wounds. The skin remains intact but appears red, and does not blanch when pressed. The affected area may feel warmer than the surrounding skin and can be painful to the touch. While grade 1 sores may resolve with prompt intervention, their presence can indicate that appropriate monitoring was not in place.

Grade 2 — Broken or Blistered Skin

At grade 2, the outer layers of the skin are broken. The sore may resemble an open abrasion, shallow crater, or blister, and is typically painful and tender. Skin damage at this stage can be irreparable and may require specialist wound care to prevent further deterioration.

Grade 3 — Deep Tissue Damage

Grade 3 pressure sores represent a significant deterioration in the patient’s condition. The damage extends below the skin into the underlying tissue, and fat may be visible through the wound. These sores are extremely painful and carry a serious risk of infection. Grade 3 sores are generally considered a strong indicator of negligent care.

Grade 4 — Severe, Life-Threatening Wounds

Grade 4 is the most severe classification of pressure sore. The wound extends to the muscle, tendons, and in some cases the bone, causing extensive damage that may be irreparable. Serious medical complications, including sepsis, osteomyelitis (bone infection), and in the most severe cases, life-threatening systemic infection, can follow. A grade 4 pressure sore almost always represents a serious failure in patient care.

What Causes a Pressure Sore Through Negligence?

At Farleys, we have represented clients who have developed pressure sores in hospitals, care homes, and through community health and nursing care. The failures that lead to preventable pressure ulcers typically include:

• Poor or inadequate risk assessment on admission to a hospital or care home, including failure to identify patients at high risk of developing pressure sores.
• Failure to reposition patients regularly, inadequate turning schedules for immobile or bed-bound patients.
• Use of unsuitable or defective equipment, including mattresses, overlays, and beds that are not appropriate for the patient’s risk level.
• Failure to monitor and document the condition of a patient’s skin over time.
• Inadequate or delayed treatment once a pressure sore has been identified, including incorrect wound care or inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.
• Insufficient staffing levels that prevent proper patient monitoring and repositioning.
• Poor nutritional and hydration management, which affects skin integrity and healing.

If any of these failures occurred in your case or the case of a loved one, you may have grounds for a pressure sore negligence claim. We’ll assess your circumstances carefully and give you an honest view of whether a claim is viable.

How a Pressure Sore Negligence Claim Works

We handle every aspect of your claim, so you can focus on recovery rather than paperwork and process. Here’s what to expect:

Step 1 — Free initial consultation

We’ll listen to what happened, in as much or as little detail as you’re comfortable sharing. We’ll explain whether we think you have a viable claim and what the process involves, with no obligation to proceed.

Step 2 — Obtaining medical records

We request the full medical records relating to the patient’s care, including nursing notes, risk assessments, wound care records, and any incident reports. These form the foundation of your claim.

Step 3 — Independent expert review

We instruct specialist independent experts, typically consultant clinicians and tissue viability nurses, to review the records and provide a professional opinion on whether the standard of care fell below an acceptable level and whether that failure caused or materially contributed to the pressure sore.

Step 4 — Letter of claim

Once expert evidence supports the claim, we formally notify the NHS Trust, care home, or other responsible party. They have a defined period under the Pre-Action Protocol for Clinical Negligence Claims to investigate and respond.

Step 5 — Negotiation and settlement

The majority of pressure sore claims are resolved through negotiation rather than court proceedings. We pursue the maximum compensation available and will not accept a settlement that does not reflect the full impact of the negligence on the patient’s health and quality of life.

Step 6 — Court proceedings if necessary

If the responsible party disputes liability or fails to offer fair compensation, we will not hesitate to issue court proceedings.

Why Choose Farleys for Your Pressure Sore Claim?

With decades of experience behind us, we understand that pursuing a medical negligence claim can feel like a daunting step, particularly when you or a family member are already dealing with the physical and emotional impact of a serious wound. Our job is to make the process as straightforward as possible, so you can focus on what matters.

We appreciate that ultimately, you’re the one who knows what’s best for you and your family. That means our role is to listen carefully to your experience, assess your circumstances in detail, and lay out your options clearly, with honest recommendations tailored to your situation and what we believe will achieve the best possible outcome for you.

• Specialist medical negligence solicitors with extensive experience in pressure sore and pressure ulcer negligence claims.
• Ranked by The Legal 500 as a Top Tier firm and recognised by Chambers UK 2026 – independently verified quality across our legal teams.
• Lexcel accredited – the Law Society’s quality mark for legal practice management and client care.
• No win, no fee representation – you will not pay us anything unless your claim succeeds.
• Sensitive, straightforward support throughout – we handle the legal process and keep communication clear and jargon-free.
• Offices across Lancashire and the North West, including Manchester, Blackburn, Preston, Burnley, Wigan, and Rawtenstall.