Bedford Hospital NHS Trust Compensation Claim

If you have been injured or become ill as a result of the negligence of a Bedford Hospital NHS Trust hospital, you may be able to make a medical negligence claim. Call Quittance on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist about your claim.

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust case study

A 33-year-old woman was awarded nearly £348,000 in a court settlement for a work-related illness claim after sustaining a lower back pain injury from lifting heavy patients while working as a nurse at Bedford Hospital.

The claimant first saw her GP at age 27 with cervical spine pain and later, in April 1994, reported lower back pain. She was referred for further investigations, and her symptoms improved with physiotherapy, allowing her to return to work for two years. However, she later began experiencing neck pain again, leading to her claim.

Diagnosis and outcome

The claimant underwent an MRI scan, revealing a posterior prolapse at C5/6 and changes at C6/7 in the lower cervical spine. After receiving further physiotherapy, she was assigned to lighter duties, but her symptoms returned and traction treatment was unsuccessful.

She was referred to a neurologist and underwent surgical decompression and fusion at C5/6. Following the surgery, she developed lower back pain. After attempting to return to work, her neck and back pain recurred, forcing her to stop working again. She was medically retired a year later.

NHS Trust's liability

At the time of the trial, the claimant had severely restricted cervical spine movement and intermittent neck pain, with further deterioration expected. She also experienced constant lower back pain and had a neck scar from surgery. Her injuries significantly impacted her daily life, making activities like sitting for long periods or driving difficult.

The claimant was medically retired from nursing and had begun retraining as a counsellor. Bedfordshire Hospital NHS Trust admitted liability for her permanent injury, which was expected to worsen over time.

Compensation settlement

The Court ordered Bedfordshire Hospital NHS Trust to pay a total sum of £347,923.59.

Total Damages of £167,521 were awarded, with £17,500 for pain, suffering and loss of amenities; £5,000 for loss of congenial employment; Special Damages for loss of earnings at £61,446, and loss of pension at £20,000.

See also:

Personal Injury Solicitors in Bedford

Making a compensation claim against Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

The panel of solicitors have extensive experience handling claims against hospital trusts.

Your solicitor will work with the Trust to establish the sequence of events that led to your illness or injury, and your solicitor will also work hard to secure the maximum compensation.

Call Quittance on 0800 376 1001 to discuss your options with a claims expert or find out what your claim could be worth.

Disclaimer

Case studies are for informational purposes only and aim to help prospective claimants understand the injury claim process. They are based on cases handled by Quittance panel solicitors or sourced from public court records.

Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher

About the author

Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.