How to Make an Complaint Following Medical Negligence*

If you or a relative have been let down by bad advice, negligent treatment or lack of action whilst under the care of a doctor or any other health professional. It is possible that you can make a claim for medical negligence.  

First things first, what is Medical Negligence? Medical negligence, also known as clinical negligence, is the term used to describe a breach of duty of care by a doctor, nurse, and or other health care professionals through medical negligence or medical malpractice. The term is used to describe a breach of duty of care by a doctor, nurse or other medical professional that leads to harm that could had been avoided.. 

There is a time limit, so you need to a complaint within 12 months of the event happening.  

Send in your complaint via recorded delivery, if posting or email addressed to the Chief Executive if it is a Health Trust or to the relevant General Practice body.  

Set out the issue in one or two pages, what are the issues that you wish to complain about, include dates as well as any pictures, and follow up appointments or written reports you have to support your complaint.

And then the health care provider are obliged to investigate and communicate with you to make sure that you have got the answers to address your complaint.  Sometimes a health provider will actually want you to come in for a meeting and that's a question for you to decide if you would want to accept the offer of a face to face meeting.  

You can insist on getting an answer in writing in the first instance, and if you believe that the initial response is not satisfactory, ask for a meeting to take place.  What you need to remember, is that you or your relative have experienced the poor care, so you need to be clear of what action you are prepared to accept as a result of your complaint, you can just wait for the decision in writing and not agree to meet them at all, it is totally up to you. 

If you decide to have the face to face meeting, bring someone with you. It can be very emotional reliving an experience of poor care, so to have a supportive friend in the meeting will be of great assistance. 

Complaints of medical negligence are sometimes lengthy, however it is an important process because it enables an investigation to take place at a very early stage and it is an opportunity for the health care provider to investigate and learn from their mistakes, if it is agreed have occurred. 

Claims of medical negligence are also noted and used to compare against other Practices and Health Trusts, and with more available information regarding data collection, Freedom of Information etc, this provides an opportunity to also ask that information about the numbers of patients or customers who have raised similar complaints against the Health Trust or Practice  

So, now that you have all the information you need to process a complaint of medical negligence, there is no reason to put it off. If you are unsure you can always contact a Solicitor who specialises in claims against the NHS, GPs, private doctors and hospitals for a free consultation

7 Top Family Adventures In London This Summer *

The summer holidays are almost here. It’s time to organise some awesome adventures with the family. One of the troubles with trying to book a family adventure is trying to get that fine balance to get something which will please both adults and kids. So I’ve knocked together a fantastic list of fun and educational things to do in London this summer for you and the kids.  Alternatively you can check out other options available to families.  Harry Potter – a perfect way to merge together fun for all the family by visiting the movie sets of the Harry Potter movies. Top Tip: go to Kings Cross station first and check out the exit to platform Three and Three Quarters, before catching the train to the main experience.  Always best getting there early as the crowds build up very fast.  Buy your tickets online first to avoid the queues.   

Shrek’s Adventure – It’s the most popular attraction in London, according to net mums, and it’s not hard to see why. There are superb immersive 4D virtual reality ride and lots of DreamWorks characters to keep the young ones entertained.  Live actors play a certain part and get the kids involved so they will have a great time. Afterwards you can get your picture taken with several of the main cast.  

Jack the Ripper, Walking tour – If ghost tours and creepy fun is your cup of tea then you have to try out the famous Jack the Ripper walking tour. It’s a real whodunit mystery and very educational. You’ll discover exactly what life was really like back in Victorian London. Top Tip; wear comfortable shoes and make sure to bring a camera as the East End of London is rapidly changing every day. What you photograph today, might be gone tomorrow.  

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham palace – nobody does royal displays like Buckingham Palace and the kids will love the horse cavalry marching up and down the Royal mall. Top Tip: get there early as the crowds do get quite intense.  Perhaps look online for some of the best Westminster guided tours in London which will get you into the parade ground to see the horses up close.  

Explore the Golden Hinde, a full-scale reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s famous sailing galleon - The great part of this experience is the adults can be educated about the history of the ship and the kids can pretend Captain Jack Sparrow on a pirate vessel. There are also some great little eating places all around the ship. It’s fun and educational and no doubt the kids will eventually learn about in school, so at least they get a head start.  

An exhilarating ride down the river Thames on a speedboat tour- This really is something else, and a clever way to see all those the sites of London whilst the kids just soak up the thrill of being on a fast speedboat. The speedboats usually start around Temple Station and go down as far as the O2 Arena, so it's well worth it for that moment you zoom under the famous Tower Bridge.  

Madame Tussauds Wax museum – I think the whole family will enjoy a visit to this iconic building and see all the celebrities and characters from the world of history, film and music.  Tussauds strikes that perfect balance with both adult and children as they merge all the characters together for a great day out. They’ve recently added a Marvel superhero section, so it just keeps getting better.  

Father's Day Gifts That Your Dad Actually Wants*

I have been doing Father's Day gift guides, for a while now. And if I'm honest, it doesn't get any easier, however I have found some amazing finds along the way.

Father's Day is on Sunday June 17 this year and if you're stuck for gift ideas, I've picked out options to suit every budget.


It is easy to buy any old tatt. You know the famous saying buy cheap, buy twice. Sometimes you have to invest in a piece of clothing. For example buying your Dad a waxed jacket which is the perfect outwear for all seasons. And will last for years, perfect for the Dad who loves to good smart.



I don't think you can't go wrong with lager. There are lots on the market, you are spoilt for choice. But I can personally recommend Hofmeister. It's a light, crisp and produced under the Purity Law, which means it can only contain water, hops and barley.



A Fit bit doesn't only have to be used for monitoring weight and fitness levels. You can use it stress-management. The device features Relax, a guide that takes users through a two- or five-minute deep breathing session

So there's my Father's Day gift guide, I hope you found some inspiration from it.

Tips for Fundraising with the Kids *

Fundraising can be an engaging, exciting way to get the whole family involved with doing some good for others in the world. From raising money for a cause you believe in to volunteering as a family, there are plenty of ways that you can get the whole household involved in fundraising and charitable activities. 

Of course, everyone is different, and therefore, some children are likely to be much more enthusiastic about the prospect of fundraising than others. While positivity, encouragement and explaining the benefits of fundraising can be great ways to show the younger members of your family why it is so important, arguably the best way to get them actively involved is to lead by example. After all, if your children see you performing good deeds and acts of kindness on a regular basis, the chances are that they will simply see it as just another part of daily life. 

So, with that in mind, here are some top tips for fundraising with your whole family! 

Pick a Cause You Care About 

If you are going to be dedicating your time and money to something, you want it to be something that you personally consider worthwhile. Whether it is a local hospice or homeless shelter, an animal welfare organisation or an international charity, make sure to pick out a cause that suits you and your family. If you are struggling to decide who to support, why not consider setting up a child sponsorship and allowing your children to actively help vulnerable young people across the world? 

Donations and Volunteering 

Once you have chosen your cause or charity, the next step is to decide how you want to fundraise and show your support for them. Two of the easiest and most obvious ways are to collect monetary donations or volunteer your time – both of which can be tailored to meet your family’s strengths and preferences.  

Set Realistic Expectations 

This is particularly important if you are new to fundraising – don’t expect your fundraiser to be a resounding success straight off the mark and similarly, you shouldn’t set an unrealistic target amount of donations to reach. Not only will this demotivate and demoralise you, but it could also prevent your children from making the most of the opportunity and it could discourage them from wanting to take part.  

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help 

Although there is a fine line between asking friends, family members and colleagues for help and ending up spending money you don’t really have on things you don’t really want, you should never be afraid to ask the people around you for help and support. Even if some people aren’t able to help out, the chances are that others will be more than happy to play their part. If your child’s school allows it, you could even ask if they can run a fundraising event like a bake sale to help their cause. 

Treat it as a Group Activity 

Fundraising should be a whole family experience, not a solo activity. Avoid placing the entire workload on one person’s shoulders and instead, try to work together and utilise one another’s strengths in order to make your fundraising activities as enjoyable and successful as possible. If you do end up struggling with motivation, it can be a good idea to try and chart your progress in order to keep morale high and provide some much-needed encouragement! 

Ultimately, fundraising should always be a fun and enjoyable activity – something to look forward to rather than simply doing it out of obligation. Hopefully, by working together as a family and incorporating creativity and passion into your chosen fundraising activities, you will soon find the little ones loving fundraising as much as you do!

What To Know Before Buying An Enagement Ring*

In the world of quick fashion, the thought of wearing something forever  is not for the fainthearted. How is anyone supposed to be tied to one style of anything forever!? Whether you're a Groom-to-be or looking to up your Pinterest board game, it's never a bad idea to figure out what type of engagement ring is the best fit for the love of your life or yourself. 

Work out your budget, not only will this help you keep out of debt, it will keep the jeweller onside and they will be able to how you options in your price range. Plus don't be afraid to negotiate a bit off the price. 

Find out her ring size, this can be tricky, the easiest way of doing this. Is finding a ring your love one is not wearing and bring it with you to the jewellers to be measured. Make sure it is one that you have seen worn on the ring finger, as this maybe an expensive mistake to make. 

Pick the engagement ring band, you have a variety of metals to choose from, from yellow gold, rose, white gold, platinum and even silver. You can also mix different types of metals 

 Now you need to know about the 4 C's Cut, clarity, Carat and Colour.  

Cut refers to the shape of a diamond. Oval shapes are becoming more popular, classic round is timeless which you cannot go wrong with. Cushion has been a popular cut for some time now. Emerald cuts are rectangular in shape and look very elegant. Princess diamond is squared shape and then there is radiant, just like its name it is very sparkly. Those are a few of my favourite shapes, however, there are many more to pick from. 

Clarity refers to the stones and perfections know as Inclusion. 

Carat, the term the bigger the better is not always true when it comes to diamonds, also different cuts in the same carat weight can look very different due to how deep or shallow the stone is. 

 Colour, there are five diamond colours on the chart. Colourless,  near colourless, slightly tinted, very light yellow and very-very yellow.  

 Now you are armed with all the information you need to be able to pick the perfect engagement ring, which she will love and wants to wear forever