£225,000 Secured for Woman Left Wheelchair-Bound After Hospital’s Negligence

At Fletchers Solicitors, we represent clients whose lives have been permanently altered by medical negligence. This case involved a woman living with athetoid cerebral palsy who suffered catastrophic consequences because of a failure to properly interpret her scans and act quickly. Our expert medical negligence team secured £225,000 in compensation to support her long-term care needs.

Early Life and Initial Health Concerns

Our client was diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy from birth, a condition affecting her movement and muscle tone. Despite these challenges, she lived a full and independent life well into adulthood.

At age 27, she began experiencing numbness in both hands, which was concerning enough for her to seek medical help. She was referred to her local hospital, where she underwent both a myelogram and X-rays to investigate her symptoms.

Unfortunately, the X-rays were reported as normal, and no further investigations were arranged at that time. This decision would have devastating consequences.

Deteriorating Condition and Life-Changing Injuries

Over the following months, our client’s symptoms worsened. Her numbness progressed to the point where she fell and suffered a serious fracture to her right leg, breaking both her tibia and fibula. Despite this traumatic injury, no urgent action was taken to investigate the cause of her neurological decline.

Eventually, her mobility deteriorated so significantly that she became fully wheelchair-bound and incontinent, drastically altering her independence and quality of life.

It was only when a further myelogram was performed that the true cause of her symptoms was discovered: spinal cord compression at the C3/4 level of her cervical spine. She required urgent decompressive laminectomy surgery, but by this stage, the damage was irreversible.

Proving Negligence

Our medical negligence solicitors were instructed to investigate whether the hospital’s handling of her case fell below an acceptable standard of care. With the assistance of independent medical experts, we examined her records and imaging reports.

It became clear that the initial X-rays had been misinterpreted. Had they been correctly reported, it would have been apparent that there was a spinal problem requiring early intervention.

The hospital ultimately admitted liability, acknowledging that decompressive surgery should have been performed much earlier and that this delay caused her catastrophic loss of mobility and independence.

Building the Case and Assessing Care Needs

Because our client already lived with cerebral palsy, our legal team worked closely with medical experts to carefully assess what her care needs would have been without the hospital’s negligence, compared with her needs following the injury.

This was a crucial step in calculating fair compensation. Expert reports from specialists in neurology, orthopaedics, and care needs helped us build a detailed picture of the extra support she would require for the rest of her life.

Securing Justice and a £225,000 Settlement

Through skilled negotiation, our solicitors were able to secure a £225,000 compensation settlement for our client. This award reflected:

• Her significant loss of independence

• The emotional and physical impact of her injuries

• Increased care and assistance needs

• The lifelong challenges caused by the hospital’s admitted negligence

While no amount of money could undo the harm she suffered, this settlement will help ensure she has access to the support, care, and equipment needed to manage her condition and maintain her dignity.

How We Can Help

If you or a loved one has been left disabled or suffered serious harm because of medical negligence, our team can help you secure justice. We fight tirelessly for clients, holding hospitals and healthcare providers accountable for their mistakes and ensuring families receive the compensation they deserve.

Speak to our experts today!