Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Compensation Claim

If you have been injured or become ill whilst under the care of a hospital within the Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, you may be entitled to make a clinical negligence compensation claim. To discuss your options with an expert, call Quittance on 0800 376 1001.

Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2009) - Case Study

A 78-year-old man accepted a £110,000 settlement after unnecessary surgery at Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust led to severe complications, including a leg amputation.

The man, diagnosed with intermittent claudication due to artery narrowing, underwent surgery in May 2006 for a femoro-popliteal bypass and iliac angioplasty. Shortly after, the surgical wound became infected with MRSA. Despite the infection, he was discharged, and a district nurse attended to his dressings.

In June 2006, after the infection worsened, the claimant fractured his right femur in a fall at home. While preparing for a partial hip replacement, doctors discovered the bypass graft was infected, leaving no pulse in the leg. He was transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital, where the infected graft was removed. Due to the MRSA infection, an above-knee amputation was performed on June 17, 2006.

The hip fracture was left untreated, as doctors determined the claimant wouldn't be able to use a prosthetic limb following the amputation.

The arguments

The case relied on complex medical evidence that highlighted multiple failings in the claimant's treatment.

An independent vascular surgeon criticised the decision to perform a popliteal bypass graft, suggesting that an angioplasty would have been a more suitable option. Even if a bypass graft was necessary, the expert argued that a vein should have been used rather than a prosthetic graft. The expert further stated that inadequate treatment of the MRSA infection caused the graft to become infected, and proper vascular care from the start could have prevented the need for amputation.

A microbiologist concluded that the MRSA infection resulted from poor hand hygiene, indicating negligence by the medical staff during surgery or post-operative care.

Additionally, reports from a psychologist and doctor confirmed that the claimant was suffering from a depressive disorder, with his level of disability increased and made permanent by the amputation.

Compensation settlement

Total damages of £110,000 (£135,536.64 RPI adjusted) were agreed in an out-of-court settlement. Of this, £75,000 (£92,411.35 RPI adjusted was attributed to pain, suffering and loss of amenity. The balance of the damages were for the costs of care, travel, equipment, accommodation and counselling costs.

See also:

Personal injury solicitors in Manchester

Making a compensation claim against Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Making a claim for medical or clinical negligence can be daunting at first, and expert legal advice is strongly recommended. Hospital Trusts are complex organisations and it can be difficult to establish what has happened.

The panel of solicitors have significant experience in taking on hospital trusts and securing financial compensation for people affected by clinical or medical negligence.

Call us on 0800 376 1001 to discuss your situation 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:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.