A family has told the BBC that their son, Oli, had his life changed forever after what they describe as basic failures in care at a hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department when he was 32.
The account, given to the broadcaster, describes a sequence of events in which the family believes A&E staff did not follow appropriate procedures. The family say the consequences for Oli have been severe and lasting.
BBC analysis of official data indicates that Oli's experience is not isolated: there has been an increase in the number of clinical negligence claims being made in England. The trend has renewed scrutiny of patient safety in acute settings and of how hospitals investigate and respond when things go wrong.
Rising claims carry implications for patients, families and health services. For those affected, negligence cases can be a route to financial support and formal recognition of harm, while for hospitals and the wider health system they can signal the need for reviews of practice, training and systems.
The case highlights broader questions about standards of emergency care and how complaints are handled. The BBC analysis and the family's account together underline continuing public concern about avoidable harm in healthcare and the legal and organisational mechanisms used to address it.
Further detail on the specific circumstances of Oli's treatment and the hospital's response was provided in the BBC report.