We advised our client in respect of a clinical negligence claim against The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, following failures in care provided at Russells Hall Hospital between September 2014 and January 2015, resulting in permanent eyesight loss.
Scenario
Our client attended a routine eye examination in August 2014, where the optician noted some areas of concern and made an urgent referral for an ophthalmology assessment. Urgent referrals should be considered within 24 hours, but a consultant at the ophthalmology clinic at Russells Hall Hospital did not review for six days. There was subsequently another, even longer delay in getting our client seen in the clinic, waiting six weeks instead of one (at the most), which was wholly unacceptable.
When our client was finally seen, more failures ensued: inadequate assessment, a lack of recognition concerning the seriousness of our client’s condition, wasted time due to unnecessary referrals, and delays acting on scan results.
Throughout these delays and failures, our client’s sight deteriorated, and by January 2015, she had lost the sight in her left eye and had impairments in the right eye. She underwent surgery in January 2015, but the damage was irreversible, and she is now blind in the left eye and has reduced vision in the right eye.
What was our role?
Ann Houghton represented our client and secured an apology from The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust for the failures, and an acceptance that, had she received the care she was entitled to, she would have undergone surgery some four months earlier, saving her sight.
We acted on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ agreement and undertook extensive investigatory work, including obtaining disclosure from the Trust. We obtained a full complement of expert evidence, witness evidence and documentary evidence, and we involved a specialist clinical negligence barrister.
We pursued a compensation claim for our client and obtained a six-figure out-of-court settlement for her before the commencement of court proceedings, avoiding unnecessary stress for our client, and a quicker outcome.
The compensation provides our client with the means to purchase the very best cosmetic contact lenses, pay for private medical care and also to give her financial security.
Client testimonial
“Ann was excellent and kept me up-to-date with everything. Fantastic services throughout. I would also like to highlight the friendly and supportive approach; everything was explained to me in a way I could understand. All correspondence was replied to promptly and I will not hesitate to recommend you to anyone that requires legal representation. I am very grateful for all of your efforts at Anthony Collins Solicitors; the settlement you have achieved for me.”
For more information
For more information on clinical negligence claims, please contact Ann Houghton.
