CASE STUDY

The Claimant developed urinary problems and attended her GP throughout 2007 and 2008 with complaints of recurrent Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). She was continuously prescribed with antibiotics for the recurrent UTI’s. In late 2007 she was referred to the Urology Clinic due to the recurrent UTI’s. Stents were inserted in March 2011.

The Claimant continued to attend and/or telephoned her GP throughout 2011 to 2014 with complaints of increased pain. She developed fatigue, sickness, shortness of breath, palpitations and dizziness all of which became progressively worse over time.

The Claimant was admitted to Southampton General Hospital in October 2014 and remained there for four days. During this admission, a CT scan of her urinary tract was carried out which confirmed that bilateral ureteric stents remained in situ. These stents had calcified/encrusted due to remaining in situ for over 3 years.

Due to the stents remaining in situ for such extensive time the Claimant was required to undergo surgery under general anaesthetic for stent removal stone treatment. The Claimant was listed to undergo and underwent a cystolitholapaxy and ureteroscopy and insertion of JJ stents – bilateral in November 2014. Following this procedure the Claimant was listed for a stent removal in December 2014, following which she was left with permanent renal impairment, anaemia and general poor health compared to how the Claimant could have been.

Extensive expert evidence was obtained in the fields of renal, urological, psychological, accommodation, care and assistance and Assistive Technology in order to successfully prove the Claimant’s case.

The Defendant made admissions confirming that it breached its duty of care in failing to remove the stents after the operation in March 2011, which should have been removed within 6 to 12 weeks after insertion. A follow up appointment was not arranged between 6 weeks and 3 months after the operation and the Claimant should have also remained under annual review thereafter.

The Claimant now suffers from chronic pain and fatigue, stage 4 chronic kidney disease which will worsen to the extent she will require a kidney transplant and/or dialysis, PTSD, a moderate major depressive disorder with a poor prognosis and a shortened life expectancy with a significantly reduced quality of life.

The claim settled prior to trial with a lump sum payment of £1,375,000 together with periodical payments of £40,000 per annum in years 1-3 and £80,000 per annum from years 4 onwards.

Tracy Hunns-Clarke, Consultant Lawyer at Remedy Law who successfully settled the claim comments ‘This was a very challenging case involving multi-discipline experts. The outcome is a positive result for the Claimant, but I am sure she would rather this situation never occurred in the first place.’

Remedy Law have been instructed in relation to a number of clinical negligence claims around the country and continue to support those who have been let down by medical services.