November 25th, 2011
*Jane* sustained a dog bite wound to her hand and wrist after trying to stop a Staffordshire bull terrier from attacking her own dog. She attended A&E at her local hospital where an x-ray was taken to ensure there was no fracture or foreign body within the wound. Jane was told that the x-ray showed no fracture or foreign body.
The wound was stitched closed in A&E and she was given antibiotics tablets before being allowed home.
Unfortunately, Jane began to feel unwell after sleeping through the night. The following morning she had a fever and her arm felt very painful and heavy. She also noticed there was an area of redness spreading out from underneath the dressing. She went back to the A&E department at her local hospital.
A plastic surgeon examined her wrist and explained that the wound should have been left open for at least five days in order to prevent infection. Jane was admitted to hospital immediately and given intravenous fluids and antibiotics. She underwent a further 3 operations to thoroughly clean and debride the wound. Jane now has extensive scarring and struggles to use her dominant hand without pain.
In August 2010, Jane approached Pryers Solicitors and investigations were begun by Richard Starkie, a Solicitor specialising in Clinical Negligence. In October of the same year, having obtained copies of Jane’s medical records and x-rays, Richard wrote to the Hospital Trust setting out the allegations of negligence. The Trust responded and denied any liability.
Richard then instructed an expert in accident and emergency medicine, who supported Jane’s case unreservedly. The expert stated that the wound should not have been stitched in the A&E department. The wound should only have been stitched closed once a plastic surgeon had performed a thorough cleaning and debridement of the wound.
A hand surgeon was then instructed in order to provide a view on the effect of the failure and how Jane’s wrist was at the time. The expert stated that if the wound had not been stitched closed in the A&E department then the risk of developing a serious infection would have been less than half. The hand plastic surgeon also stated that Jane’s injury and infection had caused considerable short term pain and disability, and pain, weakness and stiffness in the long term.
These points were put to the Defendant but it maintained its denial of liability so Court proceedings were issued and served on the Trust.
The Defendant then made an initial settlement offer of £7,500. This was rejected and Richard entered into negotiations with the Defendant. Jane’s case was settled for £20,000.
The case was funded by a conditional fee agreement and Jane kept all of her compensation, with nothing to pay towards legal costs.
Tags: Accident And Emergency, Bull Terrier, Clinical Negligence, Debridement, Dog Bite, Dominant Hand, Emergency Medicine, Fracture, Hand Surgeon, Hospital Trust, Intravenous Fluids, Local Hospital, Medical Records, Plastic Surgeon, Sleeping Through The Night, Solicitor Specialising, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Unwell, X Ray, X Rays
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May 20th, 2011
*Andy* had been to two dentists over the course of eight years for all of his regular dental appointments. At no stage had he been advised to stop smoking to given any advice regarding general oral health. On only four occasions had a basic periodontal examination been carried out, once in 2001, twice in 2006 and once in 2009.
During the eight years that Andy had been attending the two dentists for his appointment he had suffered deteriorating adult periodontal disease and developed widespread bone loss in his jaw.
Andy had attended a total of 35 appointments and a total of 20 scaling and polishing appointments.
In May 2009 Andy was referred to a different dental practice. When he was seen there, x-rays were taken which showed significant bone loss around all of his teeth and the prognosis of his teeth deteriorated throughout the time of his care. Andy eventually lost one of his upper right teeth.
Andy contacted Ian Kirwan, a specialist in clinical negligence matters at Pryers Solicitors, in June 2009 and investigations into his case started.
A report was obtained from a General Dental Practitioner who advised that the Defendants had been negligent in failing to properly advise Andy and failing to carry out regular periodontal examinations. A further report was obtained, however, which advised that smoking had played a major contributory factor in the development of the periodontal disease and it was likely that Andy would have required some treatment in any event.
Allegations were put to the Defendants in February 2011 and negotiations to settle the case commenced. In March 2011 the Defendants put forward an offer to settle the case for £10,000 which Andy was pleased to accept.
The Defendants also paid all of Andy’s legal costs so he received 100% of his compensation
Tags: Allegations, Bone Loss, Clinical Negligence, Contributory Factor, Dental Appointments, Dental Practice, Dental Practitioner, Dentists, Health Results, Investigations, Kirwan, Lost One, Negotiations, Occasions, Periodontal Disease, Poor Oral Health, Prognosis, Solicitors, Teeth, X Rays
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May 20th, 2011
In May 2006 *Rachel* underwent a knee replacement procedure at her local hospital in Yorkshire.
Following the knee replacement Rachel continued to suffer pain and discomfort and complained of this on a number of occasions to her physiotherapist and GP. Rachel was struggling to carry out a number of the physiotherapy exercises because she had such reduced movement in her knee.
By the end of July 2006 Rachel’s GP was so concerned about her slow recovery that he referred her for investigations and to have a manipulation procedure on the knee.
After the manipulation procedure Rachel did not feel that her position had been improved at all either in relieving the pain or increasing the range of movement.
By January 2007 Rachel felt she could no longer manage the pain that she was in and returned to her GP once more and was referred back to the hospital who simply sent Rachel for further physiotherapy which gave no further relief from her symptoms.
During February 2007 Rachel underwent a number of x-rays through the hospital but no concerns were raised following these, even though one showed that her leg was not straight.
In May 2007 Rachel returned to her GP and asked to be referred for a second opinion. She was referred to a different hospital in Yorkshire. Rachel underwent a thorough review by the consultant there and was informed that one component of her knee replacement was too big and that this was the cause of all of her pain and difficulties walking.
Rachel underwent surgery in December 2007 to replace the incorrect part of the knee following which Rachel commenced a long recovery process. She has not yet fully recovered and has been informed that there is little more that can be done.
Rachel contacted Alex McKnight, a specialist in clinical negligence matters at Pryers Solicitors, in February 2009 and investigations into her case commenced.
Medical evidence on Rachel’s current condition and prognosis was commissioned initially, in addition to further evidence on the failings of the initial hospital.
Lengthy negotiations commenced to settle the claim and in March 2011 an offer was made by the Defendant to settle the claim for £20,000.
The Defendant also paid all of Rachel’s costs incurred in the case so she received 100% of her compensation.
Tags: Alex, Clinical Negligence, Current Condition, Gp, Investigations, Knee Replacement, Leads, Local Hospital, Manipulation, Medical Evidence, Occasions, Physiotherapist, Physiotherapy, Prognosis, Second Opinion, Solicitors, X Rays, Yorkshire
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October 29th, 2009
A girl who went blind after doctors failed to spot a brain tumour has been awarded £1.5 million in compensation.
Tatum Rock, now 16, went into King George Hospital in Essex after banging her head in a fall in 1999.
She had X-rays, but was sent home when the radiologist missed a large brain tumour. Although the condition came to light four months later and she had corrective surgery, it was too late to save her sight.
An investigation revealed that had the X-ray been read properly, the victim would have had surgery immediately and her sight would most likely have been saved.
Tatum took legal action against Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, which has now admitted liability for the misdiagnosis and agreed to the payout.
Hospital bosses apologised for the failings and wished Tatum well for her future at university.
Research from Imperial College London recently revealed that as many as one in six NHS patients are being misdiagnosed by either GPs or hospital staff.
Tags: 5 Million, 5m, Barking Havering And Redbridge, Brain Tumour, Corrective Surgery, Doctors, Essex, Four Months, Gps, Havering, Hospital Staff, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Imperial College London, Misdiagnosis, Nhs Patients, Radiologist, University Hospitals Nhs Trust, X Ray, X Rays
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December 22nd, 2008
A woman is taking legal action against a hospital which she says was negligent in its treatment of her injuries.
Patricia Griffiths, 65, fell at her home in November 2005 and was admitted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Although x-rays showed up a fractured vertebra in her neck, doctors failed to notice damage to some of the others.
She was discharged with a follow-up appointment three months later, but had to be readmitted after only two months due to a dislocated vertebra and partial dislocation of two others.
Ms Griffiths had to have surgery and claims her life has been ruined by the injuries which left her unable to lift with her right arm.
She is suing the hospital for £300,000 for alleged negligence, in that they did not ensure her neck was stable before discharging her.
A spokesperson for Addenbrooke’s refused to comment.
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is judged to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress.
Tags: Addenbrooke S Hospital, Appointment, Blunder, Cambridge, Clinical Negligence, Doctors, Fractured Vertebra, Health Service, Injury Death, Partial Dislocation, Right Arm, Spokesperson, Three Months, Woman, X Ray, X Rays
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