October 19th, 2009
A woman who was left fighting for her life after accidentally ingesting a black worm in her fish while abroad has been awarded a record sum in compensation.
Beryl Rushton, 66, went to the Dominican Republic on what was supposed to be a luxury Christmas break with her family in 2001.
While eating at First Choice’s Tropical Beach Resort on a banquet night, she discovered a black worm with blood around it in the fish steak she had been eating. That night, she became violently ill, but made it back home to Accrington.
She was admitted to hospital where she was immediately put in a high dependency ward before being transferred to intensive care when her aorta began to leak and her nervous system collapsed.
Ms Rushton is still suffering from her illness and takes 26 tablets a day for her ongoing heart and bowel problems.
She took legal action against First Choice and her lawyers were eventually able to prove that her condition occurred as a result of poor hygiene at the hotel.
The victim has now been paid £240,000 to cover her long-term care, which is believed to be a record for such holiday illness claims.
Last month, a girl who was electrocuted on holiday at the Kilifi Beach resort in Kenya was awarded £52,000 for the pain and suffering she was caused by poor safety standards at the hotel.
Tags: Aorta, Banquet Night, Beryl, Black Worm, Bowel Problems, Dominican Republic, First Choice, Fish Steak, Intensive Care, Lawyers, Long Term Care, Luxury Christmas, Nervous System, Pain And Suffering, Poor Hygiene, Poor Safety Standards, Record Sum, Rushton, Tropical Beach Resort
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September 23rd, 2009
A family is seeking compensation from a Manchester hospital after a woman bled to death during treatment.
Sally Thompson, 20, had a rare blood disorder and had gone into Manchester Royal Infirmary in August 2005 complaining of weakness in her legs.
She was taken to intensive care after beginning to suffer from seizures and medics decided to insert a central venous catheter into her neck to aid with getting medication in.
However, the doctor who inserted the equipment hit Ms Thompson’s jugular vein. Although a request was made for a blood transfusion, it did not come for almost two hours.
By then, the patient had lost three-and-a-half pints of blood and doctors could not save her.
Ms Thompson’s family is to sue the hospital after it was discovered that ultrasound should have been used to ensure the vein was not punctured.
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. Victims may be eligible for compensation and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Blood Disorder, Blood Transfusion, Central Venous Catheter, Clinical Negligence, Doctor Who, Half Pints, Health Service, Injury Death, Intensive Care, Jugular Vein, Legal Advice, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Medics, Ms Thompson, Pints Of Blood, Rare Blood Disorder, Sally Thompson, Seizures, Ultrasound, Woman S Hospital
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July 13th, 2009
A man who was left tetraplegic in a cycling accident four years ago is to receive compensation from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
Graham Gregory, 48, had been riding his bicycle in West Swindon in 2005 when he was hit from behind by a car.
He was thrown from the bike and sustained serious spinal injuries. Despite spending weeks in intensive care, Mr Gregory was paralysed and is now unable to care for himself.
The victim sued the driver who hit him, but it was discovered that he was not in possession of the correct insurance and the MIB took over the case.
In a new development, it has now admitted 90 per cent liability for the crash and is to pay Mr Gregory compensation that could amount to £4 million in order to cover his long-term care.
According to the MIB, three people every hour are injured by uninsured or hit and run drivers in the UK.
Tags: Bicycle, Crash, Insurance, Intensive Care, Long Term Care, Mib, Motor Insurers Bureau, Mr Gregory, Possession, Spinal Injuries, West Swindon
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February 2nd, 2009
The family of a woman who died after a series of alleged mistakes in her hospital care have announced their decision to sue.
Jacqueline Hawkins, 59, started to suffer from health problems in 2001, when she was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm.
She underwent a number of different operations at Morriston Hospital in Wales, including one to repair a severed urethra that occurred at the hospital in 2004.
However, her spleen was torn during the surgery and she began to bleed internally. Her blood pressure dropped and she was taken to intensive care.
Ms Hawkins never recovered and she died in November 2004.
After an inquest this week, Ms Hawkins’ family have decided to take legal action against Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Health Trust.
"We are aware the family have lodged a legal claim and the details are currently being considered by our solicitors," said a spokesperson for the trust.
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 should seek the advice of a solicitor.
Tags: Aortic Aneurysm, Blood Pressure, Bro Morgannwg, Clinical Negligence, Hawkins Family, Health Problems, Health Service, Health Trust, Injury Death, Inquest, Intensive Care, Jacqueline, Legal Claim, Nhs Health, Solicitor, Solicitors, Spleen, Spokesperson, Urethra, Woman Dies In Hospital
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January 23rd, 2009
A couple from Birmingham have received a five-figure compensation settlement after a series of mistakes at a hospital led to the death of their newborn baby.
Nadia Jones went to hospital after her waters broke in September 2004, but she was sent home. Despite repeated visits to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, staff continued to tell her the baby was not ready to be delivered.
After Mrs Jones went in for the fourth time, medics realised an emergency caesarean was needed.
The baby was born in a poor condition and hospital staff informed Mrs Jones and her husband Steve that he had died when he was actually still in intensive care.
Mr Jones eventually discovered his son was still alive and visited him in the baby unit before he died seven hours later.
This week, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS has paid out an undisclosed five-figure settlement to the couple after an earlier admission of liability.
John Rostill, chief executive of the trust, said: "We are continuing to work very hard to ensure that the quality of our healthcare services improves and that nothing similar happens again."
Anyone who has suffered as a result of poor care in environments such as hospitals or health centres should seek legal advice as they may be eligible for compensation for clinical negligence.
Tags: Admission, Baby Born, Baby Unit, Chief Executive, Clinical Negligence, Environments, Health Centres, Healthcare Services, Hospital Staff, Intensive Care, Led, Legal Advice, Medics, Mrs Jones, Nadia, Newborn Baby, Seven Hours, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals
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