Manchester, UK – 18th September, 2019: The family of a 'devoted father' who died after doctors failed to properly treat his bowel problem have been awarded a £170,000 payout.
The 61-year-old man from Bury was admitted to North Manchester General Hospital in August 2015 after having suffered weeks of severe abdominal pain and vomiting.
Doctors treated the man - whose family have asked for him to remain anonymous - that day before he was referred to the hospital's surgical team with a suspected bowel obstruction.
Following the diagnosis, a plan was put in place to treat his condition using intravenous fluids, a nasogastric tube, urinary catheter and pain relief.
But, according to the plaintiff's representatives, Forbes Solicitors, it was 'not adequately followed' by staff at the hospital, which is part of The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
The NG tube and a urinary catheter had not been fitted, meaning the man’s fluids could not be adequately managed.
"Due to this gross medical negligence, his condition began to deteriorate and he passed away as a result," claimed the plaintiff's representatives.
An official investigation was launched after the man's death, which determined that had his condition been managed correctly, he would have been expected to make a full recovery and could have been discharged from hospital just 10 days later.
The victim has since been described by loved ones as 'a proud family man, who was a devoted partner and father'.
They say he provided care and support for his severely disabled son, who has cerebral palsy.
Following the man's death, his family took North Manchester General Hospital to court for clinical negligence.
The court found medical negligence to be the cause of his death and awarded the man's devastated family a £170,000 payout.
Leonie Millard, the special medical negligence partner representing the family, said: “Here is an example of where the hospital had acknowledged their neglect under their ‘duty of candour’ process.
"Ultimately, this allowed the legal team to focus on ensuring that the family, in the absence of their loved one, would be cared for going forward.”
Source: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/north-manchester-hospital-family-payout-16938876