£2.5m compensation following negligent treatment of sepsis at North Manchester General Hospital leading to amputation
The claimant is now retired but was previously fit and active. A few days after stubbing his toe, he developed groin pain and pain and swelling in his right ankle. He attended A&E at North Manchester General hospital by ambulance but was diagnosed with a rheumatology problem and advised to take pain relief and see his GP. He was discharged home.
By the following morning, he was in intense pain and confused. His family called an ambulance and he returned to A&E. He was admitted but there were further delays before he was diagnosed and treated for sepsis. It was not until late at night that staff recognised the claimant had developed necrotising fasciitis. He underwent surgery in the early hours of the following day by which time there was pus all the way to mid-thigh and he had to undergo very high above knee amputation.
It was alleged that there were failures at both attendances at A&E to appropriately diagnose and treat the leg infection with antibiotics. With appropriate treatment, he would have avoided amputation. The defendant Trust accepted liability in full and an interim payment was secured to provide for occupational therapy and physiotherapy, and for care, aids and equipment.
Despite rehabilitation and lengthy attempts to walk with a prosthesis, the height of the amputation made this impossible. The claimant uses a wheelchair to mobilise both indoors and outdoors and needs appropriately adapted ground floor accommodation and equipment, together with life-long care and therapies. He suffered a bout of depression and has intermittent nerve and phantom pain in the amputation stump.
We valued the claim and sought opinions from medical and quantum experts. The defendant argued that our client had a very limited life expectancy, which was refuted on his behalf. The claim settled by negotiation at a round table meeting with the defendant Trust.
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