Our solicitors helped Joanna claim a seven-figure settlement after medical negligence changed her life.
Joanna's Story
Joanna, aged 35, attended Hillingdon Hospital after suddenly developing very bad abdominal pain.
These symptoms should have resulted in Joanna being seen by a general surgeon and referred for an urgent CT scan to investigate the cause of her severe pain. Unfortunately, it took several days before the right scan was performed. Once the scan was done, Joanna was taken to theatre for urgent surgery.
As a result of the delays in performing surgery, Joanna developed devastating and life-threatening intestinal failure. Her small bowel had become so damaged that most of it needed to be removed. Joanna spent months in hospital and her recovery was complicated, with further surgery being required.
What Have Been The Consequences For Joanna?
Joanna has been left with Short Bowel Syndrome which means her body has difficulty taking in the nutrients through food. She continues to rely on regular parenteral nutrition, where liquid feeds are given through a catheter line in her chest.
Because of her injuries Joanna experiences ongoing bowel symptoms and significant fatigue. Joanna also suffered psychological symptoms because of the traumatic nature of her time in hospital and the severity of her injuries.
How Did We Help Joanna?
Joanna contacted Anna Vroobel, an Associate Solicitor in our medical negligence team, for assistance in bringing a medical negligence claim. After investigating and obtaining supportive expert evidence a claim was brought against Hillingdon Hospital for the negligent delays in investigating and treating the cause of Joanna’s severe pain.
After pursuing the claim for nearly two years, Hillingdon Hospital admitted medical negligence and accepted that with an appropriate level of care, Joanna would have avoided her injuries.
Following the acknowledgment of liability an advance of Joanna’s final compensation settlement was paid, allowing immediate support to be put in place. Anna and her team instructed a case manager who planned for Joanna to have ongoing therapeutic support.
Joanna’s fatigue meant she struggled to both manage her household and look after her young child. The case manager therefore arranged for assistance at home to enable Joanna to focus on her role as a mother.
Joanna has also benefited from advice from Irwin Mitchell’s Court of Protection and Financial Planning teams, to ensure that her compensation will meet her needs over the course of her lifetime.
Joanna’s case recently settled for a seven-figure sum to compensate her for her past financial losses and to meet her future needs for care, therapies, aids and equipment, transport and accommodation adaptations.
Speaking about Joanna’s journey, Anna said:
“I first went out to meet Joanna at home and was able to see and hear first-hand how much her injuries had changed the future she thought she was going to have. Joanna had a number of unanswered questions about what had happened to her in hospital and why her condition was not acted upon sooner. Joanna’s immediate concern was, and still is, that lessons are learnt to ensure that nobody else has to go through the same devastating circumstances that she’s experienced.
“It has been a privilege to support Joanna throughout her claim and I’m full of admiration for how she’s dealt with everything that has happened. Joanna has suffered life-changing injuries but despite this she has been determined to remain positive and to create a bright future for her and her daughter. I’m pleased that Joanna’s settlement will enable her to have ongoing access to the adapted housing, assistance, therapies and support she needs to make that a reality.”
Get In Touch
If you or a loved one has suffered because of medical negligence, our specialist teams could help you to claim compensation. Call our experts free on 0808 231 1840 or you can request a call back.
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