Gemma Bedford

Gemma has experience in dealing with claims arising from treatment in the Accident and Emergency Department.

Gemma has extensive experience in dealing with a whole range of catastrophic brain injury cases where round-the-clock care is required to cases where the effects of a brain injury are more subtle.

Gemma regularly represents parents whose children have suffered cerebral palsy as a result of failures in medical care during labour and birth. These cases involve experts and therapists of numerous disciplines. She has assisted to purchase and adapt homes for clients who have sustained a brain injury. Gemma also helps to ensure that they have access to the services they require to be as independent as possible, including assisting to secure funds at specialist schools or colleges.

Recent Work

• Assisted in a case which achieved a total payment of £9.25 million, comprising of a lump sum together with yearly payments for life. This was for a woman who suffered severe brain damage at birth, due to negligent medical care by the hospital. She has cerebral palsy and requires 24 hour care. The award will go towards her future care and an adapted home
• Assisted in a successful birth injury claim in which compensation was secured in the form of a lump sum settlement of £3.5 million. This also included annual payments in respect of care of £206,000 for life and £24,000 in respect of loss of earnings until the claimant reached 65 years of age. Now aged 41, the client has profound disabilities including athetoid cerebral palsy

Recent Work

• Gemma is acting for several claimants and working alongside Jane Williams on a group action against the Maxillofacial Unit at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.  A claims handling agreement has been negotiated with the Trust’s legal representatives and these claims are being investigated under the protocol.  Interim payments for claimants are being  made regularly and Gemma is working towards settlement in several of the cases where she is instructed. Many of these cases will be substantial claims involving severe facial disfigurements, communication and speech difficulties, unnecessary complications and psychological damage
• Successfully represented a client who suffered a permanent loss of vision in one eye after a delay in diagnosing a pituitary tumour. Gemma helped to secure compensation of £80,000
• Successfully achieved a settlement of £100,000 for a client who sustained an injury to his urethral sphincter following negligent surgery of the prostate
• Assisted in successfully settling a claim involving a client who suffered a bowel perforation which led to an ileostomy with a long term stoma following a caesarean section. Compensation was secured in the sum of £175,750
• Gained a settlement of £150,000 in a fatal case, on behalf of a client whose husband sadly died after suffering a head injury whilst in hospital. The claim included a complicated financial dependency claim
• Assisted in successfully achieving settlement prior to trial on behalf of a client whose wife sadly died following a failure in diagnosing cervical cancer. The settlement awarded was £450,000
• Gemma assisted with a large number of Leicester Epilepsy Group Action cases

Gemma has considerable experience in dealing with clinical negligence claims arising from delay in the diagnosis of cancer.

Gemma often represents families who have lost a loved one as a result of failures in medical care. She has been instructed by families to co-ordinate representation at inquests and often assists by liaising directly with the coroner to support the family involved. Gemma can also represent your family after an inquest and has been successful in obtaining compensation. In particular, she has experience of dealing with dependency claims that arise from these sad circumstances.

Recent work

• Gemma secured £125,000 for the widow of a gentleman who suffered a catastrophic fall whilst an impatient in hospital. The award of compensation included a substantial claim for future financial dependency
• Gemma was instructed by the family of a baby who very sadly died very shortly after birth. Gemma and Jane were instructed prior to the inquest into the baby’s death and provided guidance and support to the family during the process, also arranging representation for them at Inquest Following damning conclusions of the Coroner into the circumstances surrounding the baby’s delivery, a claim was pursued thereafter and the parents were awarded £100,000 to represent the significant emotional effect of losing their baby in such tragic and unnecessary circumstances.
• The estate and father of the deceased’s two children instructed Gemma and Jane Williams following her death from sepsis.  It was alleged that there was a delay in diagnosing and treating the deceased with cervical cancer. Gemma and Jane helped them to recover significant compensation to contribute to the future support of the children. A settlement was secured for in the sum of £450,000
• The loss of a loved one is traumatic for the whole family. Gemma is here to help families through the difficult process of investigating what went fatally wrong

Gemma can support you if you have suffered an injury during a procedure caused by a mistake made by your surgeon.

Gemma has considerable experience in dealing with bringing a claim against your GP.

Gemma has considerable experience in dealing with stillbirth compensation claims and neonatal death claims arising from maternity negligence.

Gemma has considerable experience in handling clinical negligence claims involving misdiagnosis and delays in diagnosis or treatment of sepsis.