The standard of care provided by the NHS to patients and their families is generally very good, however there are unfortunately occasions when this standard can fall, causing untold injury and distress. When this happens, it is only right that patients are compensated for the suffering they have endured.
Complications Following Surgery
In one case recently reported by the BBC, a young boy died after suffering complications following heart surgery. His family have now been awarded compensation amounting to £100,000.
Luke Jenkins was only seven when he attended Bristol Children’s Hospital for surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. Following the operation he developed a bleed on the chest and underwent further surgery, after which he was returned to a normal ward rather than intensive care. His family had incorrectly been told that he was in a high dependency ward.
Luke’s condition continued to deteriorate, but this was not picked up by medical staff and he died of a cardiac arrest a few days later.
Official reviews of the case did not find any direct links between Luke’s death and failings by the hospital, however the NHS Ombudsman did say that there had been “missed opportunities” in the care provided. University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust itself admitted there had been failings and apologised to Luke’s family.
Death Following Misdiagnosis
In a second, equally tragic case, a man died at the age of 47 after problems with his heart were attributed to acid reflux by medical staff, the BBC reports.
Andrew Jones came from a family with a history of heart problems, and he himself had suffered from high blood pressure and chest pain since 2002 and had been diagnosed as possibly having an enlarged heart.
He underwent tests at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend in July 2011, and returned on a number of occasions for outpatient appointments. However, although medical staff noted irregularities, these were put down to acid reflux rather than actual heart-related problems.
Mr Jones collapsed in March 2012 and died a day later.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board did not admit liability for Mr Jones’s death, but has agreed a financial settlement for his family. The exact amount of compensation is not known, but is thought to amount to six figures.
Treatment Delays Led to Brain Damage
In a third case, a 12-year-old girl has been awarded compensation amounting to £2.5 million after failings by medical staff led to her suffering severe brain damage shortly after her birth.
She was born in Warrington Hospital and there were no issues with her actual birth, but her health deteriorated a few days later, reports Runcorn and Widness World. This was not diagnosed in time and as a result there were delays in her treatment that led to the brain damage occurring. She now requires extensive, ongoing care.
Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has apologised to the family and said it would learn from what happened to help prevent similar failings happening again in the future.
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