August 5th, 2009
Two brothers who were treated for a rare form of anaemia are to receive compensation after they both ended up with iron overdoses.
According to the BBC, Liam McNeely, 35, and his brother Paul, 39, both had blood transfusions at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.
However, in 2001, the siblings were both diagnosed with iron overload – Liam’s iron levels were 5,000 mg when the normal amount is between 30 and 100 mg.
"It turned out it was caused from having too many blood transfusions without having the necessary treatment. I was in shock," Liam remarked.
He now suffers from diabetes and osteoporosis, while Paul needs constant care from care workers and his parents.
In a new development, the hospital has agreed to an undisclosed payout after an eight-year legal battle and has admitted liability for the brothers’ injuries.
Iron is needed to carry oxygen around the body, but when too much of it gets into the bloodstream, it can damage the stomach, liver, kidneys, lungs, blood vessels and brain, Healthoma attests.
Tags: Bbc, Blood Transfusions, Blood Vessels, Bloodstream, Brother Paul, Constant Care, Diabetes, Iron Levels, Iron Overload, Kidneys, Liver, Lungs, Mcneely, Necessary Treatment, Osteoporosis, Oxygen, Royal Liverpool Hospital, Siblings, Stomach, Two Brothers
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July 6th, 2009
A young mother is seeking compensation from Tesco after her baby was put at risk of liver and kidney failure due to staff errors.
Kirsty Hensby, 22, picked up a prescription for her baby daughter Summer at Tesco after she developed a rash on her face, the Daily Mail reports.
However, the locum pharmacist labelled the bottle with a dose of 5ml three times a day instead of 3ml.
As a result, Summer was given medicine for four days that would have been more suitable for a six-year-old, putting her at risk of liver and kidney damage.
The error was only noticed after Ms Hensby went to collect a repeat prescription.
Tesco blamed the error on a locum pharmacist and said it is investigating the matter fully, as well as having sacked the offending member of staff.
Ms Hensby said the compensation offered to her by the supermarket, £600, is not enough.
"It was as though I was complaining about a can of baked beans being past their sell-by date, rather than the health of my daughter," she commented.
Tesco provides a range of pharmacy services, including repeat dispensing, repeat collection and diabetes screening.
Tags: 3ml, Baby Daughter, Baked Beans, Blunder, Daily Mail, Diabetes, Diabetes Screening, Kidney Damage, Kidney Failure, Liver, Locum Pharmacist, Medicine, Pharmacy Services, Rash On, Repeat Prescription, Supermarket, Tesco, Three Times, Young Mother
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July 7th, 2008
Around 100 people are forced to have a limb amputated due to diabetes, it has been revealed.
According to Diabetes UK, greater awareness of the condition and its impact is urgently needed.
Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of the charity, said that most amputations could be prevented by improving awareness and management of diabetes.
He told the Press Association: "People with diabetes need to have optimum support, guidance and clinical care to help minimise the risks of amputation."
Figures suggest around 5,000 people undergo amputations every year and diabetics are 15 times more likely to have a lower limb removed than those without the disease.
According to NHS Direct, approximately 2.3 millionaire affected by diabetes in the UK. Around two per cent of pregnant women are also affected by gestational diabetes whereby the body cannot produce enough insulin to absorb the high levels of glucose in the blood.
Tags: 100 People, Amputation, Amputations, Charity, Chief Executive, Diabetes, Diabetes Awareness, Diabetes Uk, Diabetics, Douglas Smallwood, Gestational Diabetes, Glucose, Greater Awareness, Guidance, Insulin, Lower Limb, Management Of Diabetes, Millionaire, Optimum Support, Pregnant Women
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