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£4,556,640 FOLLOWING DELAY IN TREATING SPINAL ABSCESS

GREENWOOD V GREAT WESTERN HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (2010)

Helen Niebuhr and Jonathan Phillips of Darbys Solicitors

FACTS

Aged 53 Maureen Greenwood attended her GP complaining of sudden onset and increasing neck pain and vomiting.

Maureen was sent by ambulance to hospital where she was examined, diagnosed as having suffered a soft tissue injury, and discharged by a junior doctor.

Six days later Maureen was readmitted having collapsed at home. The following day she underwent MRI examination and then decompression of her epidural spinal abscess.

Maureen was left paralysed from the chest down.

BREACH OF DUTY

It was Maureen's case that on her first attendance at hospital she should have undergone a full examination which would have revealed her evolving spinal abscess.

It was also Maureen's case that following her readmission to hospital she should have been examined by MRI sooner and come to surgery sooner.

CAUSATION

It was Maureen's case that earlier surgery would have avoided her permanent paralysis.

OUTCOME

Liability was disputed throughout however compensation was agreed at a full valuation of £4,556,640.