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Robert Sowerby was rendered blind as a result of an eye
infection which was not recognised or treated. Paul McNeil
successfully pursued a case against the hospital that treated him,
when other solicitors had advised that there was no case.
Sixty five year old Robert Sowerby became unwell over Christmas
in 2004. He was prescribed antibiotics by his GP. When his vision
deteriorated, he attended Northampton General Hospital’s accident
and emergency department late on 27 December.
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He reported he was seeing black spots in both eyes and was
suffering rigors and other signs of an infection. He saw the duty
ophthalmologist who initially thought that he had a bacterial
infection or a recurrence of cancer. She telephoned the ophthalmic
consultant, who advised over the phone. This was against the
hospital’s own protocols.
She advised to treat for cancer and not investigate or treat the
infection.
The hospital’s guidelines stated that Robert should have
immediately been taken to theatre and given antibiotics directly
into his eyes as there was a very significant risk that he would
lose his sight.
There were many occasions over the next days when the
ophthalmologists should have taken the correct course but the
infection remained untreated. Robert was transferred to the
Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre on 31 December in a moribund
state.
Robert had developed septicaemia and a severe eye infection,
endogenous endophthalmitis, which rendered him blind. We argued
that treatment on the night of admission with intravitreal
antibiotics would have saved his sight and prevented
the septicaemia.
Paul McNeil acted on behalf of Robert
and pursued a medical negligence claim
against the Northampton General for the delay in diagnosis and
treatment. On expert advice, we alleged that with proper, earlier
treatment, Robert would not have been rendered blind, although he
may have suffered impaired vision as a result of the initial
infection. The claim was settled for £390,000 in November 2009 and
was funded by legal aid.
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After the settlement Robert said:
"When I lost my sight, I lost everything. I was totally
despondent. I didn’t know what to do. With the help of my family,
we decided to channel our frustrations in a legal battle. We knew
that I had not been treated properly, but we had to find someone
who believed in our plight.
Paul McNeil believed that we had a case, although not an
easy one. Paul worked tirelessly on my behalf, always seeking out
the best experts and giving me advice when I needed it.
My future is now far from bleak. I will be in a position to
acquire specialist equipment, which will return a degree of
normality to my life. Without Paul’s hard work, none of this would
have been possible."
Robert Sowerby
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For further information or if you have an ophthalmology negligence claim please call
Paul McNeil on
020 7861 4019 or email paul.mcneil@ffw.com
You can discuss your ophthalmology
negligence claim with any member of our medical negligence team on freephone
0800 358 3848, email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry form.