As an individual working in the field of health and social care, you’re an invaluable part of many peoples’ lives, every day. From the patients and clients who rely on you, to their family and loved ones, many people look to you as a source of reassurance, hope, and practical support. You bring people through the most difficult times in their lives and help them put the pieces back together when things fall apart.
But who’s there to support you? When you’re injured at work, whether through a slip or trip, an injury sustained while lifting patients, or as the result of an act of violence from someone in a distressed state, who will pick up the pieces of the break to your confidence, your health, and in some cases your career path?
Data from RIDDOR shows that 192,000 health and social care workers suffer from a work-related illness each year (LFS) and there are 72,000 non-fatal injuries to health and social care workers each year.
- 45% of workplace illnesses in this sector are due to work-related anxiety, stress or depression.
- 36% are due to musculoskeletal disorders.
Work-related stress is a major cause of sickness absence in health and social care leading to an estimated 2.9m working days lost per year.
The majority of injuries at work in the health and social care sector are due to:
Aside from injuries or illnesses that were sustained at work, improper management can mean that health and social care workers have illnesses or injuries that are worsened by their work. For example, an individual had a bad back and their manager did not take this into consideration and made them do a lot of manual handling that made their back injury much worse.
We understand that it can be hard to ask for help; we know you might feel that you shouldn’t seek compensation from your employer. As someone who works in the field you, more than most people, will be aware of the intense pressures placed on health and social care as a sector – especially financial pressures. We understand that you may feel that asking for compensation is adding to that pressure.
At Accident Solicitors Direct, we’re here to reassure you that whether you’ve been injured by someone you were helping or caring for, had a slip, trip, or fall while at work, suffered musculoskeletal damage or other injuries as a result of manual handling or heavy lifting, or been forced to take time off work due to avoidable stress-related illness, asking that you be compensated for that is not an imposition; it is your right and a contingency that your employer will have prepared for.
You’re not taking advantage; you’re taking what you need to get back to giving 100% to the people who make the long hours and hard work worthwhile. To speak to us about this face to face, simply fill in our claims form and a qualified local solicitor will get back to you to answer any of your questions.
