Experience Overview

Paul is a very experienced solicitor who qualified in 1986 and has been with the firm since 2001. Paul is a Principal Lawyer (Partner) in our Clinical Negligence department.

He is an accredited expert in acting for the victims of medical accidents and is a member of the specialist Law Society and AvMA Clinical Negligence panels. He is part of a dynamic and growing department which is recommended by Legal 500, which describes Paul as 'an absolutely brilliant lawyer, utterly professional' and with a 'wide range of knowledge within the medical negligence area.'  In the Chambers and Partners 2011 edition, Paul is praised by market commentators for being "approachable and knowledgeable."

Paul specialises in clinical negligence, acting only for Claimants. He has acted for the victims of medical accidents against GPs, NHS Trusts and private doctors. His claims include serious brain injuries and brain haemorrhage cases, birth injuries and cerebral palsy, meningitis, anaesthetic awareness, the delayed diagnosis of cancer of various types (including melanoma, adenocarcinoma, lung and breast cancer), orthopaedic injuries, mistakes leading to amputations, errors in surgery and radiology.

He has recently concluded a number of high value settlements on complex claims where medical errors have caused death or serious disability, such as in the case of Colin Freeman.

Paul is committed to providing an excellent service to his clients. This means not only winning the highest levels of damages in the quickest time possible but also supporting them and helping them practically to find the care and treatment they need. He combines a supportive approach to his clients with an ability to bring a rigorous analysis to bear on the complex medical and legal issues arising in medical claims. In a recent client satisfaction questionnaire, one of Paul’s clients described him as 'second to none'.

Having had articles published in legal journals such as the Law Society Gazette and the Property Law journal, Paul has also given newspaper, radio and television interviews about issues of clinical negligence. He has an academic background in theology, a subject in which he has lectured and published research papers.

NHS Elderly Care ‘Condemns Many to Early Death’ - Paul has recently published a comment on recent research undertaken by The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcomes and Death regarding the negligent treatment afforded to the elderly whilst in hospital.  Read Paul's comments here.

Paul also regularly contributes to the RJW Clinical Negligence Blog

Paul is rated as a 5 Star clinical negligence lawyer by the independant rating service, The Good Lawyer Guide, provided by Legalease.  Please read below a selection of comments from happy clients:

• A first class lawyer. Vastly experienced and measured in his judgement.
• Thanks to the tenacity, integrity, and knowledge of Paul, and the team of experts around him i received a substantial award and am now able to start putting my life back on track.
• Paul is very personable...I had a very successful outcome and would highly recommend Paul Sankey.
• I found Paul Sankey/Russell Jones and Walker to be utterly professional no matter how many questions I asked, Paul responded immediately.
• Paul Sankey was absolutely brilliant and I would not hesitate in recommending him.  He was personable, professional and nothing was ever too much trouble.

Reported Cases

Compensation Achieved for Josephine Cunningham After Negligence from Care UK - Paul represented the family of Josephine Cunningham who suffered pressure sores whilst staying at Appleby House, a care home operated by care UK.

General Medical Council Disciplines GP Who Missed Cervical Cancer- Paul worked on this case which was regarding a GP whose patient died after he ignored symptoms of cervical cancer has been disciplined by the General Medical Council.

NHS Trust faces compensation claim after delays result in amputation for PC Miles Wilson - Paul represented PC Wilson following his leg amputation.

Hospital Unit Faces New Claim - Paul represented Mr Anley, whose wife commited suicide.  The psychiatric unit where Mrs Anley was based is being investigated for negligent care.

Colin Freeman left brain damaged and paralysed by NHS - Paul represented Mr Freeman in this case.  Mr Freeman was treated negligently by the NHS. This article was also published in the yell.com Solicitors Blog.

Police Widow Welcomes Hospital Closure - Paul represented the family of a policeman who tragically committed suicide whilst receiving treatment at The Woodlands Psychiatric Unit.

Cheltenham man receives £14,500 after botched dental job - Paul represented Mr Wright after he received poor treatment for a dental problem.  Read the full case here.

NHS Patient Left Unable to Walk After Three Botched Operations - Paul represented Ms McFarlane following several botched operations.  Read the press release here.

Care Home Shamed After Elderly Woman Left Unable to Walk - Paul represented Mr Hunt after his mother received negligent treatment whilst staying at a care home. Read the full press release here.  This article has also been published in the yell.com Solicitors Blog.

Psychiatric Unit Faces New Medical Negligence Claim from Husband of Susannah Anley - Paul represented the husband of Susannah Anley, who commited suicide whilst under the care of a psychiatric unit in Hastings.  Read the press release in full here.

Compensation for Kumiko Denney After Negligence by Local NHS Trust - Paul represented Kumiko Denney who suffered damage to her abdominal muscles following a series of badly performed operations.

Operations to fix surgery left woman with misshapen foot - Paul represented a woman who suffered clinical negligence from the surgeon who operated on her foot. This case also receive coverage in the Western Mail

Suicide risks allowed to keep belts at Woodlands - Paul comments on further appalling revealations from the Woodlands mental health unit