September 3rd, 2009
A man who was left permanently disabled because a medical condition was left untreated is to receive compensation for his suffering.
Anthony Venner was admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital in February 2005 with suspected compression of the nerves in his spinal cord, the Rye and Battle Observer reports.
Despite the condition, also known as cauda equina syndrome, being classed as an emergency, Mr Venner was not transferred to a hospital with MRI facilities until 20:30 GMT the following day.
The scan was then delayed until the day after. By the time the victim was diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome, he had already suffered permanent back damage, urinary and bowel difficulties and loss of sensation in his legs.
Mr Venner took legal action against the NHS trust responsible for both hospitals. Although they denied liability, a settlement of £72,500 has now been reached for the patient to cover his long-term care.
According to e-MedicineHealth.com, cauda equina syndrome is considered a surgical emergency and should be treated as soon as possible.
Tags: District General Hospital, Eastbourne District General Hospital, February 2005, Legs, Long Term Care, Loss Of Sensation, Medical Condition, Mri Facilities, Nerves, Nhs Hospitals, Nhs Trust, Observer Reports, Spinal Cord, Suffering, Surgical Emergency, Venner
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April 3rd, 2009
A family is seeking the advice of clinical negligence solicitors after a grandfather became the 14th person to die from a superbug at a British hospital.
John Saunders, 66, was admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital to have a blood clot removed, the Mirror reports.
His official cause of death was pneumonia, but the superbug Clostrodium difficile (C difficile) was listed as a significant contributing factor.
Jane Stanfield, Mr Saunders’ daughter, said the family is shocked and angry, particularly after hospital chief executive Kim Hodgson declared wards safe.
"I went in to see him just hours before he died and he was struggling to breathe and really uncomfortable. A lot more could have been done for him," she commented.
A spokesperson for the hospital said it would investigate if the family wishes to contact its staff.
It was reported last month that 62 cases of the bacteria have been noted at Eastbourne District General Hospital since January and a total of 14 people have now died there as a result.
Tags: Bacteria, Blood Clot, Cause Of Death, Chief Executive, Clinical Negligence Solicitors, Compensation Claim, Contact, District General Hospital, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Hodgson, John Saunders, Mirror, Mr Saunders, Pneumonia, Spokesperson, Stanfield, Superbug, Wards
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March 31st, 2009
The families of 13 people who died as a result of an outbreak of the hospital superbug Clostridium difficile are taking legal action to pursue a possible clinical negligence claim, it has emerged.
According to the Eastbourne Herald, 62 cases of the bacteria have been noted at Eastbourne District General Hospital, where the deaths occurred, since January.
Local MP Nigel Waterman has called for an urgent review into why the hospital has not managed to contain the superbug and the particularly virulent 027 strain, which kills six out of ten people it infects.
The East Sussex Hospitals Trust is now facing legal action from the families of the 13 people who died amid allegations that it did not protect the welfare of its patients.
C difficile mainly affects elderly people who are admitted to hospital to be treated for other problems.
It is an infection of the lower intestine which can cause diarrhoea, ulceration, colitis and perforation of the intestine, which can prove fatal, the Department of Health attests.
Tags: Allegations, Bacteria, Clinical Negligence, Clostridium Difficile, Colitis, Department Of Health, Diarrhoea, District General Hospital, East Sussex, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Eastbourne Herald, Hospital Deaths, Hospital Superbug, Lower Intestine, Negligence Claim, Outbreak, Perforation, Sussex, Waterman, Welfare
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February 2nd, 2009
A child who developed cerebral palsy after his birth was poorly managed has been awarded compensation to cover care for the rest of his life.
Oscar Riches, now seven, was born at the Eastbourne District General Hospital, but delays in his birth left his brain starved of oxygen, the Press Association reports.
As a result, he now has little mobility, severe learning difficulties and epilepsy. He is not expected to live beyond his 20s.
His mother sued the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which admitted that the locum doctor who delivered Oscar was responsible, admitted that a Caesarean should have been performed immediately and agreed to a compensation payout.
Oscar will now receive a lump sum payout of £1.11 million, as well as annual payments for as long as he lives.
According to Scope, one in 400 children in the UK suffers from cerebral palsy. Around ten per cent of cerebral palsy compensation claims are due to complications at birth.
Tags: Cerebral Palsy, Child Birth, Child Brain, Clinical Negligence, Compensation Claims, District General Hospital, Doctor Who, East Sussex Hospitals Nhs Trust, Eastbourne District General Hospital, Epilepsy, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Learning Difficulties, Left Brain, Locum Doctor, Lump Sum Payout, Oscar, Oxygen, Scope, Sussex
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