Patient And Medical Negligence Lawyers Call For Lessons To Be Learned

A woman is calling for lessons to be learned after undergoing emergency surgery to repair a life-threatening perforation to her bowel and womb following unsuccessful attempts to remove her contraceptive coil. 

Four attempts were made to remove Beki Reilly’s device during two appointments with sexual health services in Wandsworth on 25 June and 8 July, 2021. 

During her first appointment with Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, staff tried three times to remove the device, which had no visible threads, using Hartmann’s forceps.

On her second appointment Beki, 34, of Merton, was seen by a doctor. Anaesthetic gel was administered, and Hartmann’s forceps used again to try and remove the coil. The attempt was abandoned after Beki complained of severe pain. She initially agreed to a fifth attempt, but Beki stopped the procedure from going ahead. 

Beki left in pain following attempts to remove coil

Beki, who is being supported by medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, said: “The doctor had only been trying for a couple of minutes when I felt a different, new, and incredibly excruciating pain inside and I asked her to stop in a panic. She continued, only for a few seconds and I screamed and yelled ‘no’ impulsively as the pain became unbearable. I’ve never felt pain like it and I was extremely upset.

“A few hours after I left the clinic my tummy pain had become so severe I couldn’t stand up straight and I started to vomit uncontrollably.” 

Beki was admitted to hospital on 9 July, 2021, following phone calls with a GP and sexual health workers. The Trust emailed Beki a referral letter with a copy of her medical notes so that she could provide these to the hospital upon attendance, as it was thought she may have an infection. 

Life-saving surgery to repair Beki's perforated bowel and womb

However, the notes were incomplete, and Beki’s condition deteriorated. She underwent surgery on 12 July 2021, to remove her coil. During the procedure doctors found her womb and bowel had been perforated. Beki required emergency surgery to repair the tear and spent a further eight days in hospital with limited mobility and extreme vomiting. 

She said: “When I came around from surgery the severity of what had happened kicked in. I woke up in ICU with my entire tummy stapled together. I had tubes coming out of my nose, my tummy and I was hooked up to monitors. My heart rate was through the roof. I was told that had I been older or had an under-lying health condition, I wouldn’t have survived. I lost it and broke down in tears. I went for a routine coil removal and ended up having emergency surgery.”

Beki, an art director, was off work for four months while she recovered. She had trauma-based cognitive behavioural therapy to help her process what she had been through and physio to help her with her abdomen and mobility. She underwent further surgery in July 2022 to repair hernias and muscle separation, following which she was signed off work for a further three months. 

Health Trust admits liability after Beki asks medical negligence lawyers for help

Beki instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help her access the specialist support she requires. She has joined her legal team in calling for lessons to be learned. It comes after Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the service, admitted liability and apologised for the substandard care she received. 

Through NHS Resolution the Trust admitted that it failed to use Hartmann’s forceps with due care and as a result caused Beki’s perforated bowel.

It also admitted that during her appointment on 8 July it failed to obtain informed consent from Beki because it didn’t discuss expected levels of pain, possible complications and give advice for any worsening symptoms related the removal of her coil. 

The Trust also accepted that it failed to accurately document Beki’s examination history in her hospital referral letter.

It admitted that if the Trust had used the forceps with due care and skill, on the balance of probabilities, Beki would have avoided her perforated bowel and womb on 8 July. The Trust acknowledged that if her medical notes had accurately reflected her medical history, on the balance of probabilities, she would have received antibiotics sooner, would have avoided a three-day delay in diagnosing the perforations and would have avoided emergency surgery on 12 July 2021 and scarring.  

Call for lessons to be learned

Abbie Taylor, the medical negligence expert at Irwin Mitchell representing Beki, said: “Beki has been traumatised by what happened to her, especially as she originally thought the removal of her coil would be a relatively straightforward procedure. 

“Coming to terms with both the physical and psychological injuries she suffered has been particularly difficult. 

“A perforated bowel is an incredibly serious life-threatening condition which can have devastating consequences if not diagnosed and treated quickly.

“While we welcome the Trust’s admissions and pledge to work towards a settlement, allowing Beki to access the specialist support she needs, extremely worrying issues in her care have been admitted. It’s now vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety.”

Beki reveals impact care issues have had on her

Beki said: ‘It’s around 18 months later, and I still can’t really believe what’s happened and the impact this has had on my life. 

“A year after the trauma of emergency surgery, I had no choice but to have further surgery to fix multiple hernias and muscle separation. I was cut open again and they even had to remove my belly button which had a hernia in it. I look like an alien. 

“Corrective surgery was just as traumatic as the first time around, as I knew how long and hard recovering would be. Being bed bound and unable to work for months has taken a massive toll on my mental health too. No one should have to go through what I went through once, never mind twice.

“Although I’m grateful to be alive, this has really impacted my self-esteem, my relationship with my body and my anxiety.  I’ve been through a terrible ordeal and I’ll always be left with this huge scar and disfigured tummy. I just want my life and my body back.”

She is also fearful whether what happened to her will also affect her chances of starting a family in the future with her partner Joel, 40.  

“I’ve been left with question marks over my fertility. Both peritonitis and a uterine perforation can cause infertility due to the scar tissue. I feel I’ve been left in limbo of whether I can have a child in the future or not,” Becky added. 

Beki is now a patient representative for the NHS to help advise on areas such as sexual health, mental health and understanding patient pain. 

She added: “I just hope that by speaking out about what happened to me and it’s lasting impact on my life, I stop anyone else from going through the same.”

Find out more about our expertise in helping people following care issues at our dedicated medical negligence section. Alternatively to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.