Seven-figure compensation after multiple medical errors caused life-changing brain injury

Medical professionals found a meningioma tumour on Hannah’s brain in March 2011. The best course of action was to monitor the tumour using MRI scans.

Between October 2012 and April 2015, no change was noted in the size of the tumour. This led to Hannah agreeing to continue with monitoring the size of the tumour rather than having surgery to remove it.

In 2016, it was decided Hannah needed to have the tumour removed. In August 2016, Hannah underwent surgery to remove the tumour. During the operation, performed by a private neurosurgeon, the middle cerebral artery was mistakenly cut. This caused Hannah to have an ischaemic stroke.
 

Hannah’s husband instructed Irwin Mitchell’s medical negligence team to claim for the life-changing injuries she now has. Kate Major, a medical negligence solicitor, managed Hannah’s claim for her and her husband.

Kate started by investigating Hannah’s medical records, investigating the care provided by both the NHS and a private neurosurgeon. She also instructed an independent medical expert to examine the care Hannah received.

It was decided we’d be taking a claim to the NHS Trust for:

• Incorrectly reporting surveillance MRI scans between October 2012 and April 2015 as showing no change in the size of the meningioma, leading Hannah to opt for continued annual monitoring of the tumour rather than surgery.
• Negligent post-operative care following the surgery to respect the meningioma in August 2016.

We also took a claim to the private neurosurgeon for the performance of the surgery, during which Hannah’s middle cerebral artery was cut.

Following two settlement meetings before the set trial date, both defendants offered a combined seven-figure settlement. Kate determined this settlement amount was enough to cover the impacts on Hannah’s life, as well as allow for the right support to be paid for.