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
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September 2nd, 2009
A man from Bristol is taking legal action against a Somerset hospital after claiming that a botched knee operation left him in pain and unable to work.
Terry Heath, 65, needed a knee replacement and was told in 2004 that it would be performed by a Swedish surgeon at Weston-Super-Mare General Hospital. The foreign medics had been flown over to alleviate the shortage of doctors in Britain.
However, Mr Heath – who has a condition which means he has shorter than average limbs – claims the operation went so badly that he needed another a year later and is now barely able to walk.
He alleges that the surgeons were not suitably qualified and that he should have seen a specialist because of his condition.
"I would not have had it done if I had known about this. This has changed our lives completely. I can’t even get into the bath," the victim remarked.
He is now taking legal action against the hospital, which declined to comment.
Last month, it was revealed that clinical negligence payouts reached £807 million last year, up by 22 per cent on the figure from 2007-08.
Tags: Bristol, Clinical Negligence, General Hospital, Knee Operation, Knee Replacement, Medics, Mr Heath, Shortage Of Doctors, Somerset Hospital, Weston Super Mare
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July 14th, 2009
A woman whose bowel was accidentally stitched up when she went into hospital to have a routine hysterectomy is seeking compensation from the hospital she holds responsible.
Lynn Main, 55, was admitted to Horton General Hospital in Oxfordshire on May 7th for a three-day stay.
However, during surgery, a doctor mistakenly stitched up her bowel.
Ms Main was left in agony, but was told by hospital staff that she was simply constipated and should eat more.
On May 22nd, her bowel burst and she developed peritonitis. Doctors had to repair the internal injuries with staples in an emergency operation and drained the contents of her bowel manually.
Ms Main and her partner Alan Scott are now suing those responsible for Horton General Hospital for clinical negligence.
"Alan and me both knew that something was seriously wrong but none of the doctors or nurses would listen," she pointed out.
A spokesperson for the hospital said the case is under investigation.
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is deemed to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress.
Anyone who has suffered as a result of this should seek a solicitor specialising in clinical negligence claims in order to increase their likelihood of receiving a payout.
Tags: Agony, Burst, Clinical Negligence Claims, Doctors, Emergency Operation, General Hospital, Grandmother, Health Service, Hospital Staff, Hysterectomy, Injury Death, Internal Injuries, Likelihood, Nurses, Oxfordshire, Solicitor Specialising, Spokesperson, Staples, Woman
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May 18th, 2009
A woman whose GP failed to diagnose her broken hip on eight separate occasions has secured compensation for his negligence.
Sheila Brown, 67, fell near her home in Blackley and called Dr Amar Ranote for a home visit a few days later, the Manchester Evening News reports.
He prescribed painkillers and told her to call again in a month if the pain had got worse. She did this, but was again sent home.
It was not until she had been back seven times that her granddaughter decided to go with her and demand an x-ray.
A broken hip was then diagnosed and Ms Brown had a replacement operation at North Manchester General Hospital.
She took legal action against the GP for the pain she suffered and has now secured an undisclosed sum in compensation.
Anyone who suffers as a result of any kind of misdiagnosis, which would not have happened had the original treatment been correct, may be eligible for a payout in a similar vein to Ms Brown and should seek the advice of a solicitor specialising in clinical negligence claims.
Tags: advice, Blackley, Clinical Negligence Claims, Few Days, General Hospital, Gp, Granddaughter, Manchester Evening News, Misdiagnosis, Ms Brown, News Reports, North Manchester, Occasions, Seven Times, Sheila Brown, Solicitor Specialising, Undisclosed Sum, Woman, X Ray
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February 9th, 2009
A former Premier League footballer is seeking the advice of a solicitor in order to launch a possible compensation claim against an NHS trust.
Jamie Lawrence, 38, suffered a cut to his knee while playing for his current club Harrow Borough in December.
He went to Epsom General Hospital to have it treated and had six stitches to the wound.
However, the cut continued to hurt and began weeping. Upon his return to hospital, Mr Lawrence was told he had contracted the superbug MRSA.
His leg is now in plaster and he has trouble moving around.
"It has been a joke. I am going to see my legal people. I will be taking it further," Mr Lawrence commented.
A spokesperson for Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust said he was sorry to hear Mr Lawrence was unhappy with his treatment and encouraged him to get in touch.
Actress Leslie Ash received a record £5 million in compensation in 2008 after suing a London hospital when she contracted MRSA five years ago.
Tags: 5 Million, Actress, Compensation Claim, Current Club, Epsom And St Helier Nhs Trust, General Hospital, Harrow Borough, Jamie Lawrence, Joke, Leslie Ash, London Hospital, Mrsa, Plaster, Premier League, Solicitor, Spokesperson, St Helier Nhs Trust, Stitches, Superbug
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