October 13th, 2009
An NHS trust has paid a substantial sum in compensation to a couple whose baby died due to errors during his birth.
Johanne Rees went into a ward at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff when her waters broke at 18 weeks in 2005, but medics managed to stave off the birth until 32 weeks.
However, when the patient began to go into labour, the doctor who checked her said it was simply stomach ache and advised her to go to the toilet.
Ms Rees said she was screaming in agony and knew she needed an emergency caesarean, but was not taken for one for another two-and-a-half hours.
By the time he was delivered, baby Arun was brain dead. Ms Rees and her partner Krishna Govekar made the decision to switch off his life support on November 29th 2005.
Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust admitted liability and has now agreed to pay the couple £650,000 in compensation.
Earlier this month, a patient lodged a complaint with the Health Service Ombudsman alleging that delays in getting her to hospital led to her baby being stillborn.
Tags: Agony, Arun, Brain Dead, Brain Trust, Cardiff And Vale Nhs Trust, Doctor Who, Health Service Ombudsman, Johanne, Krishna, Labour, Led, Medics, Rees, Stomach Ache, Substantial Sum, Toilet, Two And A Half Hours, University Hospital Of Wales, Vale Nhs Trust
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October 8th, 2009
A woman has claimed that her unborn baby’s death was caused by a delay in getting her to hospital.
Toni Dinan, 26, was found by paramedics at her home after suffering a ruptured placenta. They radioed to see if she could be taken to Scarborough Hospital, but were told that no beds were available and that she should be driven to Hull Infirmary.
The unborn baby died during the extra 20 minutes it took to get there and Ms Dinan has now lodged a complaint with the Health Service Ombudsman about the treatment she received.
"I am blaming the hospital, I am blaming the NHS. If they had the right number of beds … we would not be having this problem and probably my baby would be here now," she commented.
A spokesperson for Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust said Ms Dinan was taken to Hull because it had better facilities for dangerously ill babies.
Anyone who experiences a stillbirth after what they believe to be sub-standard care may be eligible to make a claim for compensation and should seek the advice of an experienced solicitor.
Tags: Beds, Clinical Negligence, Dinan, East Yorkshire, Health Service Ombudsman, Healthcare Nhs Trust, Ill Babies, Infirmary, Paramedics, Ruptured Placenta, Scarborough Hospital, Solicitor, Spokesperson, Stillbirth, Unborn Baby, Woman, Yorkshire
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March 25th, 2009
The parents of a Down’s syndrome man who died after he was not fed in hospital for 26 days are to be paid £40,000 in compensation for the suffering they were caused.
Martin Ryan, 43, was taken to Kingston Hospital after a stroke in 2005, but doctors did not realise that neither a stomach nor a nasal tube had been connected.
He went without food for 18 days until this was spotted, by which time he was too weak for a feeding tube to be connected. He died 26 days after being admitted to hospital.
An investigation by the Health Service Ombudsman discovered a lack of communication between a consultant and ward sister and said that Mr Martin may otherwise have survived.
It ordered Kingston Hospitals NHS Trust to pay £40,000 in compensation to Mr Martin’s family.
"We are very angry that the staff who did that to him are not named and brought to justice. Until they are I will never feel that he has had justice," his mother Vera commented.
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 and anyone affected should seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Tags: Clinical Negligence, Doctors, Feeding Tube, Health Service Ombudsman, Injury Death, Kingston Hospital, Kingston Hospitals, Lack Of Communication, Legal Advice, Martin Ryan, Mother Vera, Parents, Stomach, Stroke, Suffering, Ward Sister
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