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Ros was 49 years old and working as a missionary in Africa. She
had travelled to the UK for a wedding. During the festivities she
developed a fever and headaches. She went to the infectious
diseases unit of Churchill Hospital in Oxford on 21 September
2004.
After admission to the hospital, Ros was put on IV fluids for
possible rehydration. The next day it was decided that she no
longer required intravenous fluids and they were stopped. However,
the tube (cannula) that was inserted into the crook of her elbow to
deliver the fluids was not removed for a further two days, which
was against the hospital’s own guidelines.
Ros began complaining of pain and redness in her arm where the
cannula was sited, and this worsened over the following days. She
was given painkillers and a hot compress to ease the pain.
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Later tests on the wound indicated that there was a bacterial
infection, staphylococcus aureus, and antibiotics were prescribed.
Treatment commenced four days after Ros began complaining of pain.
Ros continued to deteriorate
in the hospital and her nephew, himself a doctor, voiced concerns
over her medical and nursing care. She developed pneumonia and by 1
October went into severe respiratory distress. She was transferred
to the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) the following day.
Ros developed septic shock
and needed to be put on a life support machine. The toes on her
left foot had to be amputated and her heart, kidneys, liver and
lungs continued to be affected. She remained unconscious for more
than a month and when she awoke she was initially unresponsive. She
had sustained a number of strokes during her illness and, as a
result, suffered irreversible brain damage. To her credit and
because of her character and determination, Ros was able to return
to Africa, albeit with substantial care and support.
Paul McNeil was instructed on behalf of
Ros. The case was tried on liability in 2008. The judge found that
the cannula should have been removed, and she should have been
prescribed treatment for her staph. infection earlier.
Just before the date fixed
for the quantum hearing, the case was settled for a lump sum of £1
million plus annual payments of £28,000 to age 60 and £110,000
after age 60, for the rest of her life.
The award will allow Ros to
continue her work in Africa and retire to the UK at age 60 with
dignity and full professional support. The case was conducted on a
“no win, no fee” basis.
For further information or
if you have a hospital infection
claim please call Paul McNeil
on
020 7861 4019 or email paul.mcneil@ffw.com
You can discuss your hospital infection
claim with any member of our medical
negligence team on
freephone 0800 358 3848, email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry form.