Hospital Did Not Take Necessary Steps To Combat Infection Before Discharging Woman

A mum has spoken of her seven year fight to secure justice (she will never return to health) after suffering a stroke caused by a hospital infection she contracted following childbirth.

Sarah Haywood’s daughter Mila, was delivered by emergency caesarean at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke, on 17 September, 2010.

Two days later Sarah was discharged from hospital despite having a high heart rate.

Over the coming days Sarah began to feel unwell and on 3 October, 2010, she suffered a stroke at home in which she suffered brain damage.

Following the incident, Sarah, of Baddeley Green, Stoke, instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the care she received at the hands of University Hospital North Staffordshire NHS Trust.

The NHS Trust was found liable for causing Sarah’s stroke at a trial in December 2016. Sarah has received an interim payment to help fund part of her rehabilitation. However,  the case is still ongoing and Sarah has not received an offer of settlement which would  enable her to move to suitable accommodation as well as secure all of the equipment, care and therapies that she needs to start to move forward with her life.

Sarah, 44, still suffers with strength and mobility problems down the right side of her body and has difficulties with her speech, memory and coordination. She has been unable to return to her job as a manager for a leading clothing retailer.

She is now speaking out about how her injuries have affected her family life with partner Mirko Budimir, 44, and their daughter, as well as her determination to regain more of her independence.

She said: “The effects of my stroke have a huge impact on my life. Even things like dressing myself, brushing my teeth or making myself a hot drink are a problem now.

“Sometimes when Mila wants to do something I can’t do it with her and I feel broken inside. Whenever we want to do something as a family we have to think ahead and look at how practical it will be.

“I try to keep upbeat and do my absolute best to get on with life the best I can. Mirko helps me more than I could ever ask or hope for; he has been amazing.”

Sarah was transferred to a ward following the caesarean which was deemed to be straight forward, without complications. On the evening of 17 September, regular monitoring showed she had a high temperature and an increasing heart rate.

Sarah’s heart rate continued to increase the following day. However, when it started to fall she was discharged on 19 September and told her high pulse would continue to settle.

Sarah visited her GP on 22 September and was prescribed antibiotics as her wound had become infected. She visited hospital three days later to have her wound drained and again on 28 September for a consultation.

On the morning of 3 October, 2010, she suffered a stroke.

A judge agreed with Irwin Mitchell’s legal argument that if the hospital had fully investigated Sarah’s high heart rate staff would have considered she had contracted an infection. She would have remained in hospital for further tests which would have highlighted her infection and Sarah would have received antibiotics to deal with the infection sooner, meaning she would not have suffered a stroke.

Sarah added: “I am trying to move forward but it’s hard to get over the fact that a failure to take a few reasonable steps has caused so much damage and turned my life upside down.

“I try to keep upbeat and do my absolute best to get on with my life. Mila is my saviour and my whole world revolves around making the most of life with her and Mirko.”

Expert Opinion

Sarah was badly let down in the standard of care she received, which meant she experienced a life-changing moment for all the wrong reasons.

“It is important that there is not a loss of confidence in the NHS but it is also important that the NHS Trusts learns lessons from the care it provided Sarah so no other families don’t have to suffer the years of hurt that Sarah and Mirko have.

“We also call on the Trust to accept responsibility for its mistakes. Despite strong evidence presented against it, the Trust tried to fight this case. Eighteen months from a Judge ruling Sarah’s care was negligent, the case is still ongoing." Jenna Harris - Partner

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling medical negligence cases.