Our client was aged 25 when he began to suffer severe bouts of diarrhoea and was passing significant amounts of blood. After having initially approached a GP in June 2004 there was a significant delay in a full assessment of his condition. Repeated requests for medical help were made by our client to both GP and Hospital staff but no appropriate examination or treatment was given. During the period in which he was waiting to be assessed and treated his symptoms worsened and became more frequent, at times he was passing blood and diarrhoea as many as 15 times daily.
On the 10th September 2004 our client was finally admitted to hospital and had an endoscopy which revealed an infected bowel. He was informed that steroid treatment was not working and that the infected part of the bowel needed to be removed and he would have an ileostomy and colostomy bag. Due to the extent of the infection found during the procedure a large amount of the bowel was removed.
Had our clients condition been diagnosed when he first reported his symptoms then there was a strong likelihood of making a full recovery with the prescription of steroids. Due to the delay in diagnosis and treatment his quality of life has been dramatically altered. He has an increased risk of bowel obstruction and hernia, and has suffered from anxiety and depression. He will need further surgery.
The Defendant Trust defended the case vigorously throughout but eventually our solicitors settled the case in late 2009 for £110,000.