January 19th, 2009
A woman has been awarded compensation after a seven-year legal battle with an NHS hospital.
Patricia Richards, 61, went to Rochdale Infirmary in September 2001 for a routine operation, the Manchester Evening News reports.
However, her vital signs were not properly monitored while she was under anaesthetic and she suffered brain damage as a result of oxygen deprivation.
Ms Richards has since needed constant care from her husband Robert due to personality changes and difficulties doing everyday tasks.
Pennine Acute NHS Trust has now admitted that its doctors were negligent and the victim will be paid £750,000, plus annual payments of £100,000.
Mr Richards said: "The settlement is a great relief, but no amount of money can compensate for the damage done to Pat."
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.
Compensation may be claimed as a result, as was the case here.
Tags: 5m, Amount Of Money, Anaesthetic, Blunder, Brain Damage, Clinical Negligence, Constant Care, Everyday Tasks, Health Service, Injury Death, Manchester Evening News, Nhs Hospital, Nhs Trust, Oxygen Deprivation, Patricia Richards, Personality Changes, Rochdale Infirmary, Routine Operation, Vital Signs
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January 7th, 2009
The remaining members of a family touched by tragedy due to hospital negligence have been paid compensation for their loss.
Bethany Bowen, five, was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, for a routine operation on her spleen in July 2006.
However, unbeknown to her parents Claire and Richard, the surgeon performing the operation was a trainee and the team had decided to use an untested piece of equipment on the child, the Daily Mail reports.
Bethany died on the operating table from a ruptured aorta. Tragically, due to stress, her father died of a heart attack 19 months later.
Claire Bowen launched legal action against the hospital, claiming: "If it hadn’t been for the arrogance of the surgeons involved, Bethany would still be alive."
The trust responsible for the hospital recently admitted clinical negligence and has now paid Claire and her two young sons £10,000 as an acknowledgement of their loss.
John Radcliffe Hospital is Oxfordshire’s main accident and emergency site and is the largest of the trust’s hospitals.
Tags: 19 Months, Accident And Emergency, Acknowledgement, Arrogance, Bowen, Clinical Negligence, Daily Mail, Heart Attack, Hospital Negligence, John Radcliffe Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, Mail Reports, Oxfordshire, Quot, Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, Routine Operation, Ruptured Aorta, Spleen, Tragedy
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December 2nd, 2008
A woman is seeking legal action after her fiance died during what should have been a routine operation.
Dr John Hubley, 58, went into Eccleshill Independent Sector Treatment Centre for a gall bladder operation.
However, during the procedure in January 2007, a major blood vessel was ruptured and Dr Hubley died from "torrential" blood loss.
A coroner ruled that the centre’s system for obtaining emergency blood was "globally flawed" and recorded a verdict of death by misadventure aggravated by neglect.
He said that Dr Hubley would most likely have survived if the operation had been performed at a better equipped hospital.
Dr Hubley’s fiancee Bren Neale said: "A catalogue of errors occurred in a system which failed to put safety first," adding that she is consulting with lawyers to look into making a compensation claim against the hospital 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.
Tags: Blood Loss, Blood Vessel, Bren Neale, Clinical Negligence, Compensation Claim, Death By Misadventure, Dr John, Fiance, Fiancee, Gall Bladder, Gall Bladder Operation, Health Service, Hospital Dr, Hospital Trust, Independent Sector, Injury Death, John Hubley, Major Blood, Routine Operation, S System
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October 30th, 2008
A woman from Lincolnshire who was left disabled after an operation has been awarded an unspecified sum of compensation.
Sandra Compton-Lock, 67, was having a routine operation in 2003 when she suffered a haemorrhage, the Boston Standard reports.
She suffered brain injuries when the condition was not treated by medics at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital and was left needing round-the-clock care.
Michael Compton-Lock, her husband, launched a claim for compensation and judges have now granted this.
The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which owns the hospital, agreed to a payout after admitting liability, which will allow Ms Compton-Lock, who had been living in a nursing home, to move home.
Mr Justice Jack said: "[Mr Compton-Lock] and his wife now know where they are financially and I hope that all goes as well as it can go."
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 personal injury in England or Wales following a medical procedure or as a result of wrongful advice may be entitled to compensation and is advised to seek legal representation.
Tags: Boston, Brain Injuries, Clinical Negligence, Clock Care, Haemorrhage, Health Service, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Injury Death, Legal Representation, Lincolnshire, Medical Procedure, Medics, Michael Compton, Mr Justice, Nursing Home, personal injury, Pilgrim Hospital, Quot, Routine Operation, Sandra
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