October 29th, 2009
A girl who went blind after doctors failed to spot a brain tumour has been awarded £1.5 million in compensation.
Tatum Rock, now 16, went into King George Hospital in Essex after banging her head in a fall in 1999.
She had X-rays, but was sent home when the radiologist missed a large brain tumour. Although the condition came to light four months later and she had corrective surgery, it was too late to save her sight.
An investigation revealed that had the X-ray been read properly, the victim would have had surgery immediately and her sight would most likely have been saved.
Tatum took legal action against Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which has now admitted liability for the misdiagnosis and agreed to the payout.
Hospital bosses apologised for the failings and wished Tatum well for her future at university.
Research from Imperial College London recently revealed that as many as one in six NHS patients are being misdiagnosed by either GPs or hospital staff.
Tags: 5 Million, 5m, Barking Havering And Redbridge, Brain Tumour, Corrective Surgery, Doctors, Essex, Four Months, Gps, Havering, Hospital Staff, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Imperial College London, Misdiagnosis, Nhs Patients, Radiologist, University Hospitals Nhs Trust, X Ray, X Rays
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
October 26th, 2009
A 14-year-old boy has been awarded compensation for clinical negligence after a hospital admitted that its failings caused his cerebral palsy.
The unnamed victim was born prematurely at Billinge Hospital, but staff failed to properly administer ventilation, the Manchester Evening News reports.
He is now wheelchair-bound and will need round-the-clock care for the rest of his life.
The child’s parents took legal action against Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust and – after an 11-year legal battle – have now been awarded compensation that will allow them to specially adapt their home for their disabled son.
"The trust very much hopes that the compensation monies will provide life-long security and enable the individual to fulfil their potential," a spokesperson for the hospital said.
According to figures published by Scope, approximately one in 400 babies in the UK is born with cerebral palsy every year. This may be caused by a blocked blood vessel, complications in labour, extreme prematurity or illness just after birth.
Tags: 5 Million, Babies, Blood Vessel, Cerebral Palsy, Clinical Negligence, Clock Care, Extreme Prematurity, Foundation Trust, Labour, Manchester Evening News, Monies, News Reports, Nhs, Parents, Scope, Spokesperson, Ventilation, Wheelchair, Wigan
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
September 24th, 2009
Kettering General Hospital is to pay three people a total of £1.5 million in compensation after complications at their respective births left them blind.
The victims, who have not been named, are now aged 21, 18 and 16 and have been blind since they were born prematurely at the hospital, the Northampton Evening Telegraph reports.
It was found that they had not been provided with enough oxygen, which had led to insufficient development in the eye and a condition called retinopathy of prematurity.
The victims opted to seek compensation for the loss of opportunities caused by their blindness, as well as their heightened care needs.
Their lawyers have now successfully negotiated a collective £1.5 million in compensation for clinical negligence.
A spokesperson for Kettering General Hospital said: "The trust is unable to comment on individual claims as we would want at all times to respect the right to privacy and confidentiality of our patients."
Retinopathy of prematurity is thought to be caused by the disorganised growth of blood vessels in the retina and can often affect premature babies. It can result in scarring, retinal detachment and blindness.
Tags: 5 Million, Births, Blindness, Blood Vessels, Clinical Negligence, General Hospital, Insufficient Development, Lawyers, Northampton, Oxygen, Premature Babies, Privacy And Confidentiality, Retina, Retinal Detachment, Retinopathy Of Prematurity, Right To Privacy, Right To Privacy And Confidentiality, Spokesperson, Telegraph Reports
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
September 15th, 2009
A man who hit his head on the roof of his car after the vehicle went into a pothole is seeking compensation from the council he holds responsible.
Melvin Bangle, 71, had been driving in Bracklesham Bay when he hit the sudden dip in the road, the Surrey Herald reports.
The jolt was such that his jaw was clenched together, badly cutting his tongue and breaking several of his teeth.
Mr Bangle alleges that the council came out the day after his accident, which occurred in June, to fix the holes. He says he wants compensation for his ordeal, as well as the expense of his dental work.
"It’s not about the money, I want them to admit responsibility," the victim commented.
The AA said last month that there are as many as 1.5 million potholes on UK roads, putting motorists and cyclists at serious risk. President Edmund King said some of the surfaces are "crumbling".
Tags: 5 Million, Aa, Bangle, Cyclists, Dental Work, Edmund King, Holes, Jolt, Money, Motorists, Ordeal, Pothole, Potholes, Risk, Surfaces, Surrey, Sussex, Teeth, Tongue, Uk Roads
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
September 15th, 2009
Teachers’ unions have said that schools need to become safer after it was revealed that over £2 million has been paid out in compensation by Scottish schools since 2004.
According to figures released this month, £1.5 million was paid out to injured staff, while another £600,000 was given in compensation to pupils, STV reports.
One claim was from a school worker who tripped over a carpet in West Dunbartonshire and was paid £4,000.
Another came from a pupil who fell on the school steps in Glasgow and was awarded £29,000 in compensation.
Sources from teachers’ unions said it is not satisfactory that staff are having to claim for accidents that could easily be avoided if education facilities were safer.
Occupiers of schools have the same responsibility to prevent injury as any other landowner so anyone who suffers from an accident on school premises should seek the advice of a solicitor specialising in personal injury claims.
Tags: 5 Million, Accidents, Carpet, Dunbartonshire, Education Facilities, Glasgow, Personal Injury Claims, Pupil, Pupils, School Premises, School Steps, Scottish Schools, Solicitor Specialising, Teachers Unions, West Dunbartonshire
Posted in Personal Injury News | No Comments »
