Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Compensation Claim

If you have been injured while in the care of the Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, you may be entitled to financial compensation for medical negligence. To speak to an expert about your situation, call Quittance on 0800 376 1001.

Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2006) - Case Study

A 52-year-old man accepted £44,000 in an out-of-court settlement after a five-month delay in diagnosing his fractured left hip led to the need for a hip replacement.

The man, 47 at the time, fell down a flight of stairs and was taken to the hospital with pain in his left thigh. Doctors attributed the pain to an existing back problem and did not perform X-rays to check for a hip fracture.

It wasn’t until five months later that the correct diagnosis was made, by which time a total hip replacement was the only option. During the delay, the man couldn’t put weight on his left leg, affecting his mobility and work. He lost his job and the accommodation that came with it as a result.

Medical arguments

Medical experts for both the claimant and the defendant agreed that the claimant likely fractured his hip in the fall. They also agreed that, had the fracture been diagnosed during the initial hospital visit, screw fixation surgery could have been performed, giving the claimant a 70% chance of avoiding hip replacement surgery. Although screw fixation carries a 30% failure rate, timely diagnosis could have improved the outcome.

However, the experts disagreed on culpability. The Trust’s expert argued that it was reasonable for doctors to attribute the pain to the claimant’s pre-existing back issue, while the claimant’s expert contended that the hip joint had not been properly investigated.

Compensation settlement

The Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust did not accept liability. However, they did agree to pay total damages of £44,000 (£59,288.52 RPI adjusted) in an out-of-court settlement.

Of this, £12,000 (£16,169.6 RPI adjusted) was attributed to general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity. The balance was made up of special damages, mostly for future loss of earnings.

See also:

Poole personal injury solicitors

Making a compensation claim against Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Beginning a claim for medical negligence can mark the start of a long journey for some patients and their families. NHS Trusts are large, complex organisations. Simply establishing the events that led to your illness or injury can be challenging.

Quittance's network of solicitors have decades of experience dealing with complex medical negligence claims. We work hard to examine the fine details and to get you the amount of compensation you deserve.

We offer a free, no obligation consultation for patients who have been injured as a result of clinical and medical negligence. Call us on 0800 376 1001 to discuss your situation and to find out what your claim may 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.