Updated on Jan 28th 2012 at 9:43 AM from the JustGiving API

It's payday time, perfect time to sponsor someone :)

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For more information about AvMA, watch the following YouTube clip and read about the amazing work carried out by AvMA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y6-ocqgwBw

300 PATIENTS/FAMILIES SUPPORTED IN THE LAST MONTH

Behind the headlines, AvMA's staff and volunteers continue to deliver the charity's 'bread and butter' work in directly supporting and advising people affected by medical accidents.  Our helpline currently advises around 250 people a month.  Our casework services provides more in-depth support to an average 50 people each month.  Recent examples from our work include

• The family of Mrs Smith (name changed) were supported and represented at the inquest into her death on a so-called "dis-established ward" in a London hospital.  The inquest resulted in a 'Section 43' letter from the coroner making recommendations for improving safety, including protocols on dis-established wards and abolition of drugs.  The family would not have been represented and, probably, the result not have been achieved without AvMA's help. 

 

• A lady called the helpline regarding the death of her 48 yr old husband.  He died after complications following a Hernia operation.  She didn’t know where to start! She called us for Complaints, Inquest and Legal Advice. She had contacted ICAS for help but was signposted to us.  We advised her how to go about making a complaint and questions to ask, the Inquest process and what needs to be shown in a legal claim, finally signposting her to solicitors and sending her our information pack.  By the end of the call she expressed how helpful it had been, she felt that she had at last got the information she needed to enable her to move forward with what she described was very daunting and confusing process. 

 

• A gentleman called the helpline, he had an accident at home and suffered burns.  He went to A &E and was told superficial and there would be no scarring and to go home.  He returned to the hospital 3 days later for a follow up appointment and was admitted as an emergency due to the extent of the burns and the infection setting in.  He had burns to his shoulder, chest and stomach and received multiple skin grafts; he was told he was lucky to be alive!  He was off work for 7 months and was told that the scarring was much bigger than would have been if the infection had not set in and the burns had been dealt with sooner and more appropriately.  We advised him how to make a complaint to the hospital, questions to ask, the legal process and signposted him to solicitors.