September 9th, 2009
A recycling worker from Wiltshire is in line for a seven-figure compensation payment after a botched neck operation left him severely disabled.
Michael Hart underwent surgery to remove a compressed disc at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in September 2008, in what should have been a routine procedure.
However, an error by surgeons led to complications which caused irreversible damage to Mr Hart’s spinal cord.
As a result, he is now confined to a wheelchair, with only limited movement in his hands.
Following his release from hospital in April this year, he began a medical negligence claim against Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust, which has now admitted full liability for the mistake made by its staff.
A compensation figure is still to be agreed, but it is almost certain to be more than £1 million, as it will take into account loss of earnings and the cost of long-term care for Mr Hart.
The news comes after the NHS Litigation Authority’s annual report revealed the health service spent £807 million to settle compensation claims in the 2008-09 financial year.
Tags: Compensation Claims, Compensation Payment, Health Service, Hospital Nhs Trust, Irreversible Damage, John Radcliffe Hospital, Litigation, Long Term Care, Loss Of Earnings, Medical Negligence Claim, Michael Hart, Nhs Litigation Authority, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital Nhs Trust, Recycling, Routine Procedure, Spinal Cord, Wheelchair, Wiltshire
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May 22nd, 2009
The family of a man who died in hospital are to receive a payout of £12,000 after its NHS trust admitted negligence.
Alun Stanton, 71, was diagnosed with pneumonia after being admitted to East Glamorgan Hospital suffering from shortness of breath.
He underwent an operation to insert a chest drain, which the family was told is normally a routine procedure.
However, Mr Stanton died two days later. A subsequent inquest discovered that the drain had been placed too low in the victim’s body, rupturing his spleen and causing the massive internal bleeding that led to his death.
His family took legal action against Cwm Taf NHS Trust, which originally said that it was not at fault for the death.
In a new development, the trust has now accepted that its staff made a mistake and has agreed to a payout of £12,000.
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: Alun, Clinical Negligence, Cwm, Death Victim, East Glamorgan Hospital, Glamorgan, Health Service, Injury Death, Inquest, Mistake, Nhs Trust, Pneumonia, Routine Procedure, Shortness Of Breath, Solicitor, Spleen, Stanton, Suffering From, Taf
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