Is it worth persuing a claim for medical negligence ...?

My husband committed suicide last year whilst under a section in a mental hospital (suicide watch), and I have put his case in the hands of a solicitor, but haven't heard anything from them for months. I felt that the hospital let him down and on a matter of principle did not want this to happen to anyone else, The solicitor thought at the time of our first meeting that I would not be eligible for legal aid due to my income 25k per year, but I have no reserves to persue this any other way. Is it worth it? How much would I stand to be awarded - in balancing how much I would get and how much it would cost me to fund it in the first place. My home insurance has paid 2k towards my first consultation,and subsequent letter writing to the hospital - anyone else had difficulties like this

拢2000 should have gone a long way - a solicitor usually charges 1 unit of time per letter which equates to 6 minutes so if a solicitors hourly rate is 拢160 - it should be 10 letters .....if you feel your solicitor isnt corresponding or indeed dealing with the matter quickly enough they should have provided you with a "client care letter" which has their complaints proceedures in there and alternatively you can also go to the Law Society. In terms of the claim its very hard to equate the loss not knowing anything about your husbands age and profession and possible earnings etc but if you feel wronged you must try and right it for closure for yourself. If after all this the solicitor advises you that there is no claim then at least you can say you tried. You should get your solicitor to at least try and submit an application to the LSC and it may be you get legal aid but with a contribution towards the cost. It has to be worth it and hope this helps

Check any insurance you held and currently hold for legal cover if you do have it then you should be ok for what is callled a conditional fee agreement (no win fo fee but their not allowed to say that anymore), alternatively if you are joined to any employment related groups they may offer some kind of legal help or also the cab. in with a chance. Im in the middle of a medical negligence case at the moment. Be prepared. It takes a long long long time. Mine has been going on for nearly 3yrs

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, but are you sure the hospital where negligent in the care they gave your husband.
the fact is if some-one is determined to take there own life it is very hard to stop them.
it is normal to feel angry after losing a loved one and a need to blame someone for the deep loss you feel but maybe the fact is you are just going to have to accept your husband wanted to die

Yes I agree with the second person and not only that on a monetary side , you say you have already got a Solicitor , well I wonder if he/she has billed you for the work they have already carried out because if they haven't you have to take that into consideration and He fact that if you want anything else done legally by a solicitor albeit the one you have or another its going to cost you more,.And what you have to be careful of in a situation like this is that the hospital don't bring up something that may upset you even more because if you tell them things that you may think that will better your case the medical staff may counteract you in some things , perhaps , things you didn't realise