UK – 9th January, 2018: A dad left paralysed after medics at the Royal Derby Hospital failed to diagnose and treat a spinal abscess has received £2m in compensation.
Kevin Greenfield has been left unable to walk and has to use a wheelchair after doctors performed emergency surgery to drain the abscess - more than 24-hours after he was admitted to hospital.
After developing back pain the 61-year-old was admitted to hospital just before 4pm on March 2, 2012.
At 6.30pm, Mr Greenfield was examined by a doctor who noted he was suffering from numbness from the waist down.
An observation the following morning noted he was completely numb from the waist down. He was seen again by a doctor at 3.30pm and sent for an MRI scan at 6.45pm. Mr Greenfield then underwent emergency surgery at 8pm on March 3.
Following the surgery there was then a delay in administering antibiotics which allowed the infection to escalate, resulting in additional surgery to remove infected tissue.
After the incident, Mr Greenfield instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to fight his case.
Jenna Harris, specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office, representing Mr Greenfield, said: “Once Kevin arrived at hospital a full examination based on his symptoms and a MRI scan would have shown that his condition was deteriorating. Action could have been taken the same day to cure Kevin’s spinal infection with likelihood being he would have made a full recovery.
“For him to wait until the following day for the severity of his condition to be diagnosed was a clear breach in the duty of care he should have expected to receive.
“While no amount of money can ever compensate for the way Kevin and his family’s life has been turned upside down, we hope that the settlement will now allow them to focus on the future and help them to try and get their lives back on track as much as they can.
“We urge the NHS Trust to learn lessons from this sad case so others don’t have to suffer the pain Kevin and his family have gone through.”
Now Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Derby, has agreed to a £2 million settlement.
The money will help Mr Greenfield move into a specially adapted home and help pay for the specialist care and aids he needs as well as compensate for him not being able to work.
Mr Greenfield, who lives in Tamworth with wife Helen, 53, had a history of back problems and had previously attended hospital appointments about his condition.
He said: “The last five years have been a real struggle for the family as we tried to come to terms with my condition.
“Prior to the incident I and Helen led really active lives. I enjoyed cooking and did all the jobs round the house, I and Helen would often go out with friends and I enjoyed going to the football.
“Now I am unable to do simple daily tasks such as cooking as I can’t safely reach all of the appliances. Helen now has to do a lot more for me than she did before. At times it feels like she’s more of my care giver than my wife.
“I feel annoyed that I struggle to take part in many activities with my grandchildren. Due to my mobility issues I always have to consider the practicalities of doing any little task.
“There are good days and bad days. I’m still angry that if the hospital had taken swift steps to diagnose my condition I probably would not be in the position I am.”
Mrs Greenfield added: “Kevin’s paralysis has had a huge impact on so many aspects on our lives. However, as a family we’re trying to put the last five years behind us. Hopefully now we can look more to the future rather than dwell in the past and begin to feel more positive about life.”
A spokesperson for Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We apologize to Mr Greenfield for the delay in diagnosis and treatment of his spinal infection when he was admitted to the Royal Derby Hospital in March 2012. We hope the compensation agreed will enable Mr Greenfield to secure the assistance he now requires.”
Source: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/dad-left-paralysed-royal-derby-1032151