1 June 2021
A Birmingham hospital trust has been named by the NHS Resolution, the body that acts for a Hospital in claims of clinical negligence, as having one of the worst records in the UK for medical errors leading to limb amputations.
A total of 20 patients were paid compensation by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in the last ten years after being left permanently disabled due to alleged staff failures.
University Hospitals Birmingham – which serves three million people a year and is the largest trust in England – and two other Trusts had more successful amputations cases brought against them than all the others nationally, it was claimed.
The two others were Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Instances where amputation may be caused by the negligence of a medical professional include:
- Delayed treatment of an infection
- Failure to recognise that the blood supply has been cut off to a limb
- Poor management of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients
- A surgeon operating on the wrong body part
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a delay in diagnosis of a DVT
- Incorrect treatment of fractures causing tissue damage
- Negligently performed joint replacement surgery
A record 122 amputations cases were settled nationally in 2018/19, compared to 70 in the 2009/10 period. That represents a rise of 75 per cent and takes the number of people who had a limb amputation linked to poor medical care to 937 for the 10-year period.
The Trust is a ‘major trauma centre’ for the region, providing emergency trauma care for those with injuries and conditions that sometimes result in amputation.
A statement from UHB read: “The Trust has reviewed each case where such an event has occurred and will continue to take on board any learnings from events where sadly there has been an unexpected outcome.”
Here, at Williamsons, we act for individuals who have had similar experiences. One such client, after her case, said:
“ …. they got me an amazing settlement far more than I could ever dreamed of & in a short space of time. A huge thanks to Nick Gray & his fantastic team inside & outside Williamsons. I can start rebuilding my life knowing I can afford to have & get the very best in making life a lot easier. I can’t have my leg back but I can now smile again knowing life won’t be a struggle. I would strongly recommend this Solicitors to anybody who needs a professional, honest, caring & worth every penny Solicitor you will not be disappointed. Once again a massive Thank you to Nick Gray & all his team ❤”
If you, or any of your family have been affected by a similar event please contact Williamsons Solicitors, on 01482 323697, for free nationwide advice.
