Statements: Nicholas Rossiter's Family And Solicitor

Gross Medical Negligence

02/10/2008

John Pickering of national law firm Irwin Mitchell, representing the family said: "The end of this case comes as a huge relief to Nicholas' wife Beatrice and will provide a secure future for their daughters Alice and Pandora.

"Nicholas was only 43 when he died in July 2004 of congestive cardiac failure and the High Court has found that his death could have been avoided with competent care. He first visited his doctors at 241 Westbourne Grove Surgery in London in December 2001 and over the following two and a half years he did not receive proper medical care and attention.

"Doctors Chin, Benson and Alikhani failed to establish and enforce a system of monitoring Nicholas' blood pressure and did not treat him with anti-hypertensive medication as they should have done from April 2002.

"His family are relieved that this matter is now closed and they can move on with their lives."

Mrs Beatrice Ballard said: "I have lost my beloved husband and my children have lost their adored father because of gross medical negligence.

"A simple medical procedure, the taking of blood pressure, was not performed and has resulted in a death.

"I hope that this case highlights to the NHS the importance of carrying out simple, basic medical procedures on patients, and that other lives might be saved as a result.

"No amount of money can replace my children's father but it will help in securing their future."