We helped Jacqueline and her husband claim compensation after alleged hospital negligence led to her having a stroke. Jacqueline sadly died during the claim process, but her partner continued the claim.
What happened to Jacqueline?
Jacqueline worked as a cardiac nurse in a hospital that was part of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
The hospital she worked at failed to treat her atrial fibrillation, which is a common heart rhythm disorder. This resulted in Jacqueline having a stroke that would’ve been avoided had she been provided with long-term blood-thinning medication.
As a result of the stroke, Jacqueline suffered significant neurological injuries, she required care and assistance because of this. Her husband provided much of the care she required.
Sadly, Jacqueline later passed away because of complications resulting from her otherwise avoidable stroke, leaving her husband as a widower.
How did Irwin Mitchell help Jacqueline?
Before Jacqueline died, she came to our medical negligence team to claim compensation for the hospital’s failure to treat her atrial fibrillation. When she later died, her husband carried on the claim.
Thomas Riis-Bristow, a senior associate solicitor in our medical negligence team, assisted Jacqueline and later her husband with the claim.
Thomas started by instructing medical experts to examine the care and treatment Jacqueline received. These medical experts included a:
- Cardiologist to comment on the standard of care received
- Neurology and stroke medicine expert to comment whether Jacqueline’s stroke was avoidable and, if so, what injuries she had suffered because of her stroke.
The NHS Trust denied liability and a trial was set. Even after seeing our evidence, the Trust continued to deny liability.
During the Court proceedings, we attended a settlement meeting with the Defendant’s representatives where and out of Court settlement was reached in the sum of £225,000. The money won’t make up for Jacqueline’s husband losing her, but it will help him to slowly rebuild his life.
Expert opinion
On the claim, Thomas said: “What happened to Jacqueline was completely avoidable. Sadly, the hospital failed to act, and Jacqueline had a stroke and sadly lost her life.
“Her husband stood by her side throughout and now must face life without her. The compensation won’t make up for her death, but it can help him get the right support.”
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