Mum-Of-Two Sent Home From Hospital After Assessment

The family of a mum left severely disabled after being sent home from hospital following a stroke have revealed how their ‘lives have changed forever’.

Alison Yeadon, 52, was taken by ambulance to Bradford Royal Infirmary on 9 July, 2017, after suffering left-sided weakness which her husband Jon suspected to be a stroke.  She was assessed and discharged home, with doctors diagnosing possible high blood sugar.

By 11 July, Alison’s weakness had worsened and she was struggling with her speech.  Jon called a GP, who recommended Alison went to hospital as an emergency.  On this occasion, she was diagnosed with a stroke and treated.

However, the mum-of-two had already suffered serious injury.  She has since been left disabled and is now largely house and wheelchair bound and has speech and memory problems.  Alison, of Odsal, is dependent on Jon, 55, and her daughter Gemma, 30, to care for her.

Following Alison’s diagnosis, Jon instructed medical negligence experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his wife’s care and ensure Alison can access the specialist life-time treatment and therapies she requires.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Bradford Royal Infirmary, admitted a breach of duty and a failure to identify and diagnose Alison’s stroke on 9 July, which would have led to her being admitted and treated at that time.

However, the Trust denied admitting Alison to hospital on 9 July would have changed her outcome.

Alison’s family are now joining with their legal team in marking Stroke Awareness Month by highlighting the signs and symptoms of a stroke.

Expert Opinion

“The past few years have been incredibly difficult for Alison and her family, having to deal with the life-changing effects of her stroke. She is now largely house bound because of her disabilities.

Understandably they were then left with unanswered questions as to whether or not she should have been treated when she first attended hospital. While nothing can make up for their ordeal we’re pleased to have secured them with the answers they deserve.

Alison’s story is a reminder of the importance for all medical professionals to be aware of the signs of a stroke and take appropriate action at all times. By speaking out Alison’s family hope that it will help others know what to look for.

We’ll continue to support Alison and her family to ensure she can access the specialist therapies she requires to try and live as full a life as possible.”
Rachelle Mahapatra - Partner

Jon said: “Alison started complaining of a really bad headache which was getting stronger and stronger, as well as slight numbness in her left arm and leg and that she couldn’t stand up properly.

“I was convinced she was having a stroke so I called 999, but then she was sent back home.  Within two days, she was a lot worse and was eventually diagnosed, but by then the damage was permanent.

“Before the stroke, Alison was fit and healthy and we enjoyed life as a family.  Sadly, that’s a thing of the past for us now, and seeing my loving wife struggle day after day is heart-breaking.

“Our lives have changed forever. Despite what the hospital said it’s difficult not to think how things might have turned out differently had she been diagnosed earlier.

“What Alison has been through has been unbearable. All we can do now is help make others aware of what a stroke can do and what to look out for.”

May is Stroke Awareness Month. It’s held to raise awareness of the signs of a stroke,  the impact they have on sufferers and their friends and families, as well as educating people what to do in the event of someone suffering a stroke.

For more information visit the Stroke Association’s website www.stroke.org.uk/

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