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19th January 2010

Patient compensated for painful pressure sores

Pressure sores developed after hip operation

A patient who ended up with serious pressure sores after a routine hip operation has received £18,000.

The 46-year-old from High Wycombe developed the sores after operations to both his hips at Amersham Hospital in May 2007.

Almost three years later he still cannot sit for long periods of time, something that has a hugely disproportionate impact on him as he suffers from the neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis which means he has to sit often.

Patient should have been turned every hour

He underwent surgery after suffering from hip problems for a number of years. Following the operations he was bed-ridden. The hospital failed to carry out a risk assessment which had it taken place would have concluded that due to his height and weight he should have been turned every hour.

He was rarely turned and instead his wife ended up turning him when she visited. He developed grade two pressure sores which became infected and delayed his recovery by months.

Ironically the patient worked as an anaesthesia assistant in the orthopaedics department of the same hospital for more than 30 years. Once he recovered he knew instantly that he should have been turned more often to avoid his injuries.

He said: “I worked in that department for 30 years and know the hospital’s protocol for turning patients. I find it unbelievable that the nurses didn’t follow it. I was failed by the very department I worked for.

“My myasthenia gravis means I will never work again and as my condition worsens I will be forced to sit for longer and longer periods of time. These pressure sores are going to make my life even more unbearable.”

Thompsons Solicitors made claim for compensation

Once he left hospital the client contacted Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation. Thompsons argument was that the hospital should have created a plan to prevent or lessen the chances of pressure sores developing.

Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust admitted liability and settled the claim out of court.

Michael Burrell from Thompsons said: “A denial of basic treatment set out in a well known protocol resulted in a condition that has huge long term implications for our client. The NHS is trusted to give the best possible care. In this case even basic standards were woefully ignored.”

Making a Compensation Claim

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