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What are pressure ulcers and bed sores?

Commonly referred to as pressure sores, pressure ulcers and bed sores occur as a direct result of unrelieved pressure and distortion of the skin and tissue. A pressure sore can be extremely uncomfortable, painful and, if left undiagnosed or untreated, fatal. 

When pressure is constantly applied to an area of the body, it disrupts the flow of blood to the skin. A lack of adequate blood flow starves the skin of vital oxygen and nutrients, leading it to breaking down and ulcers or sores forming.

People who live with health conditions that limit their mobility, or those recovering from surgery, are most at risk of developing pressure sores. Older people can often be at risk of developing sores too. 

Caregivers for people with lower levels of mobility must be checking for pressure ulcers and taking care to prevent ulcers from forming.

When assessing your pressure sore, a medical professional will give it a grade. The grade of your pressure sore will affect your claim - for example a Grade 2 pressure sore compensation will vary from Grade 4 pressure sore compensation

This is due to the severity of the pressure sore at each grade and the potential long-term damage it can do. Pressure sores are divided into the following four grades:

  • Grade 1: discolouration of the skin. Grade 1 pressure sores are the least severe and if caught quickly can be easily treated. 
  • Grade 2: partial-thickness skin loss, presenting like a blister. Grade 2 pressure sores are slightly more severe and have the potential to become infected if left untreated. 
  • Grade 3: full-thickness skin loss, damage of subcutaneous tissue, presenting like a deep crater. Grade 3 pressure sores are severe, causing discomfort and pain. 
  • Grade 4: full-thickness skin loss with extensive necrosis (dead body tissue) extending to underlying tissue. Grade 4 pressure sores are the most severe, causing debilitation, extreme pain and, in extreme circumstances, death. 

Getting the right grade diagnosis for your pressure ulcer or bed sore is important to ensure you receive the right treatment. It will also be important when making your pressure sore compensation claim.


If left unchecked and untreated, pressure ulcers can become life-threatening. Beyond the extreme discomfort and pain pressure sores cause, associated complications include:

  • Cellulitis
  • Bone and joint infection
  • Gas gangrene
  • Septicaemia (blood poisoning)

These conditions can have severe, long-term health effects that could require major surgery, medical procedures, physical therapy and even amputation. If you've had to endure the life-changing effects of an untreated pressure sore that wasn't your fault, we could help. 

Pressure ulcer compensation can help you get the care you need and cover any costs your pressure sore injury resulted in. Get in touch with our friendly advisors on now to find out how we can help. We can also call you back at a convenient time, just fill out our online form and our friendly team will call you back.


Pressure sores tend to be caused by remaining immobile for a long time. This will be predominantly when you remain immobile in the same position because you either cannot move or you have not been moved when you should have been. 

As you are in the same position for a long period, the blood in the area of your body that has not moved reduces, meaning the skin breaks. The skin dies as it does not have enough blood and therefore, the blood cell dies.

Pressure sores can also develop due to:

  • plasters not be applied correctly
  • muscle spasms as this means that a patient experiences more friction
  • too much moisture which can be as a result of sweating or incontinence

Some patients are more vulnerable to pressure sores than others such as those who are:

  • diabetic
  • 70 years of age or older
  • incontinent
  • smokers
  • suffering from spinal cord injuries
  • suffering from neurological conditions
  • lacking in sensory perception compared to the average person

Pressure ulcers can be prevented, so when they do develop it is often sadly clear that neglect is the cause of the pressure ulcer. If best practice is carried out, pressure ulcers should be prevented.

Pressure ulcers can be prevented by:

  • carrying out a risk assessment on patients
  • put in place measures to try to prevent a pressure ulcer from developing such as moving the patient regularly into different positions
  • using pressure-relieving mattresses
  • use of pressure-relief ring cushions where the immobile patient is setting down regularly for long periods
  • giving a patient a balanced diet accompanied by lots of fluids
  • checking patients' skin often
  • making sure that bedding or plaster casts are not too tight

Pressure sores can be a safeguarding issue rather than due to neglect and therefore, negligence. This is because some people are simply more susceptible to them than others due to a variety of factors such as:

  • medical conditions
  • current skin conditions
  • how do they determine their care and treatment
  • poor personal hygiene
  • poor nutrition
  • poor living environment

Where such factors are present a safeguarding referral may need to be made to prevent pressure sores rather than a case for claiming compensation subject to negligence. 


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How do I know if the care received was negligent?

Pressure ulcers and bed sores are almost always preventable, meaning when they do occur it is usually a sign of negligence. Medical professionals should be trained to spot the signs and potential causes of pressure sores, and to follow the correct procedures to ensure they don't develop. 

If you've been receiving care from a healthcare practitioner and developed a serious pressure ulcer, you could be eligible to make a pressure sore negligence claim.


Meet the team

Kelly Affronti

Kelly Affronti

Legal & Compliance Manager

An experienced legal operations manager, Kelly ensures we deliver the level of clear, effective service our customers expect to receive.

It may be possible to make a compensation claim by suing a hospital for pressure sores which have resulted due to their negligence

Hospitals such as those run by the NHS as well as private hospitals have a duty of care towards you as their patient. This includes ensuring you do not suffer pressure sores while under their care. When they fail to ensure this such as by:

  • not carrying out basic risk assessments
  • not putting  in place measures to help prevent  pressure sores from developing they may be negligent,  meaning you have the right to sue and make a claim.

You can also claim compensation from a care home if your pressure sore is a result of medical negligence. Care homes have a duty of care towards their patients in the same way as hospitals do. Therefore, they also have to carry out a risk assessment and post adequate measures in place to prevent pressure sores from developing.  


Why should I make a pressure sore claim?

Unfortunately, the recovery period from a pressure ulcer or bed sore can be long, especially if you suffered complications as a result. Life-changing complications can also leave you in a state of poor mental health, particularly if you have undergone amputation surgery. 

We take into consideration the full impact of your pressure sore when assessing your pressure ulcer compensation claim, from the financial and physical effects through to the mental impact and changes to your daily life. 

Making a bed sore claim can help you get your life back on track and go some way to helping you resolve a painful chapter in your life. When putting your claim together, your solicitor will make sure they are pushing for the maximum entitlement based on your case details. 

For example, your solicitor will ensure you're covered for: 

  • Loss of earnings
  • Medical expenses, including prescriptions and physiotherapy
  • Any social activities, sports or hobbies you have had to suspend
  • The effect your injury has had on your family and loved ones
  • Any adaptations that must be made to your home to facilitate your new life

For an estimate of how much compensation you could receive for your pressure sore, use our online  pressure sore compensation calculator. This free service can help you estimate the pressure sore compensation amount you could be entitled to. 


If you've suffered a pressure sore injury through medical negligence but you're not sure how to get started, speak to one of our friendly, personal injury advisors who can support you through your claim process.

How do I start my claim for compensation?

If you've suffered a pressure sore injury through medical negligence but you're not sure how to get started, speak to one of our friendly, personal injury advisors who can support you through your claim process.

What if someone I love has been affected by a pressure sore due to negligence?

It can be very distressing to see someone you care about suffer from a painful pressure ulcer or bed sore, even more so if they are incapacitated and unable to seek the care and support they need. If their injury was caused by someone else's negligence, you could be able to claim for pressure ulcer or bed sores compensation

UK law allows close family members or caregivers to make compensation claims on behalf of incapacitated persons. For example, if someone with dementia sustained a pressure ulcer or bed sore due to negligence at their care home or in hospital, a family member could make a pressure ulcer compensation claim on their behalf

Similarly, if you have suffered a bereavement due to an undiagnosed and untreated pressure ulcer that was due to negligent care, you could make a pressure sore claim for compensation.

For more information on making a pressure ulcer or bed sore claim on behalf of someone else, contact our team of personal injury advisors on .

We understand how difficult it can be to discuss the loss or suffering of a loved one. Our advisors are here to listen, identify if someone else was at fault and offer you advice on seeking pressure sore compensation. However, we will never pressure you to proceed with a claim, allowing you to make the final decision.


Frequently asked questions...

Yes - it's highly likely you'll need to go to one. An independent medical opinion is an important part of the evidence that your solicitor will rely on when building your claim. Your solicitor will advise you based on the specifics of your claim.

The appointment will be booked for you and in most cases, will be with a medical professional local to you. It doesn't take long, usually no more than 30 minutes to an hour. After the appointment, the medical professional will write a report giving their opinion and then send it to your solicitor. You'll be able to read the report and your solicitor will ask you to check it for accuracy.

There's no need to visit a solicitor's office in person. If you decide you'd like to go ahead, we pass you onto one of our specialist solicitors for a free initial consultation. We usually transfer you to them on the same call and they'll typically handle your case without you needing to visit them.

Simply put, medical negligence is where a medical professional or medical institution like a hospital harms a patient by act or omission in the course of treatment or surgical procedure. It also includes things like medical misdiagnosis where a wrongly-identified condition or one missed entirely harms the patient.

If you want to start a pressure sore negligent claim you have a strict legal timeframe that you must start your claim in. This is the same for any personal injury or medical negligence claim.

You have to start your pressure sore negligence claim within three years when medical negligence caused your pressure sore. Alternatively. You can claim three years from the date you realised your injury, which is the date of knowledge. However, it is advisable to seek to make a compensation claim as soon as possible so that all evidence necessary can be gathered in time.

If you are claiming medical negligence for a child the timeframe for any personal injury including a pressure sore, ulcer or bed sore differs. Rather than having three years, you have until their 18th birthday to make a claim. Once they reach 18 as they are an adult, they make their own claim, and once again the three years deal. one applies from their 18th  birthday. 

Where the medical negligence claim for a pressure sore is on behalf of an individual who doesn't have the mental capacity to make their own claim, there is no time limit. However, if the person has regained mental capacity and no one has claimed for them, the three-year time period applies to them as it does anyone else. 


If you are considering compensation for a pressure sore negligence claim, you won't be alone in wondering how much you can claim. This of course depends on the individual circumstances of your claim such as:

  • the pain your pressure sore caused you
  • how your life is affected by it such as a loss of amenities which refers to the effect on your social life and hobbies
  • costs for care and medical expenses
  • loss of earnings and potential loss of future earnings 

Am I able to make a no win no fee pressure ulcer claim?

Yes. With National Accident Helpline claims are made with a no win no fee contract. For many claimants, a no win no fee pressure sore claim is the best way to make a claim. Under the terms of a no win no fee agreement, you will only pay legal fees if your claim is successful. These will generally be a pre-arranged percentage of your settlement amount. 

If your claim is not successful, you will not pay any legal fees. This makes no win no fee the most cost-effective way to claim. You will need to ensure you have the right level of insurance, but we can help you organise what you need. 

In a small number of cases, you may not be able to submit a claim using a no win no fee agreement. However, your legal team will keep you updated about this, allowing you to decide whether to proceed with your pressure ulcer claim or not.


Why choose us to help with your pressure sore negligence claim?

With years_since years of experience behind us, we understand the concerns you may have when considering making a personal injury claim. Our team understands the personal and sensitive nature of a pressure sore claim and will always work to ensure your best interests are at heart - so you can make the best possible recovery.  

We're with you every step of the way. From your initial consultation with our advisors to connecting you with the legal team for your case and supporting you with free, impartial advice along the way, we're here for you. 

Our service has helped us reach an ‘Excellent' rating on consumer review site Trustpilot, with over 20,000 satisfied customers giving us a great review.



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Compassionate and stress-free claims handling.
Compensation on a No Win No Fee basis means you'll never be out of pocket.
We've handled over 40,000 medical claims.
Trusted, friendly and confidential support when you really need it.

Contact our advisors now

We aim to make starting a pressure sores compensation claim as simple as possible. Get in touch with us on for your free, no-obligation consultation. If you'd prefer, you can also request a callback at a time that suits you.