Jonathan Zimmern recovered compensation for our client following
two separate delays in diagnosing spinal
fractures at the Accident and Emergency
Department of the Royal Free Hospital in London.
Marie, who is now 65, fell at home. She suffered pain, which
increased in severity. She attended the accident and emergency
department at the Royal Free Hospital where hip and chest x-rays
were carried out.
The x-rays showed no bone injury. However, crucially, Marie's
spine was not x-rayed. She was given painkillers and
discharged.
The pain did not reduce and a month later Marie's GP referred
her back to the Royal Free Hospital for an x-ray of her back which
demonstrated a fracture of her spine. She was advised to attend
physiotherapy sessions which were very painful.
Marie sought a second opinion at the Whittington Hospital about
her treatment and was urgently referred to the Royal National
Orthopaedic Hospital.
The consultant explained it was too late to treat the spinal
fracture but if he had seen her immediately he would have treated
her with a body brace. As time went on the pain in Marie's back
reduced and she regained more mobility and movement.
Marie received a letter of apology from the Royal Free Hospital
for the poor service she received.
The following year, whilst on holiday, Marie felt a sharp pain
in her back while bending over. She returned from holiday
immediately and went straight to the Royal Free Hospital for an
x-ray.
Once again, no fracture was detected. However, following her
earlier experience and feeling that something was still not right,
Marie sought a second opinion and saw the specialist at the Royal
National Orthopaedic Hospital.
An x-ray found that she had a suffered another fracture to her
spine, which had again been missed by the Royal Free. On this
occasion, and as the second fracture had been caught in time, she
was treated with a body brace.
Marie was informed by her treating doctors at the Royal National
Orthopaedic Hospital that she would not have suffered the second
fracture but for the delayed treatment of the first fracture.
As a result, Marie approached Field Fisher Waterhouse. Jonathan Zimmern pursued a claim for negligence against the Royal Free Hospital on her
behalf and was able to negotiate a settlement for her.
For further information or if you have a spinal injury claim or medical
negligence claim, please contact Jonathan
Zimmern on 020 7861 4218 or
email jonathan.zimmern@ffw.com.
You can speak to any member of our
medical negligence team on freephone 0800 358
3848, email personalinjury@ffw.com or
complete our short enquiry
form.