Collaborative working with NHS Resolution following wrist injury

Our client was playing in goal when a football struck his outstretched left hand. Although he saved the goal, he suffered a serious wrist injury.

The injury included a fracture of the radial styloid, a small fracture where a ligament or tendon pulls away a piece of bone, and a shearing injury where the radius meets the wrist joint.

The following day, he attended an Urgent Treatment Centre. However, the seriousness of his injury wasn’t recognised. He should have received urgent surgery within 72 hours, but instead he was given a below-elbow slab cast and told to return to the fracture clinic in two weeks.

This delayed treatment led to further avoidable injury.

Almost a year after the injury, our client had stopped making progress with his recovery. He still had significant pain and poor wrist function.

He continues to experience a tight, ‘dead’ feeling on the back of his arm, alongside uncomfortable tingling and numbness.

The delayed treatment also meant he needed to live with a permanent injury.

The ongoing pain affected our client’s sleep and made everyday activities difficult. He couldn’t carry his young son or sustain an activity for long without increasing discomfort.

Tasks many people take for granted became difficult. He struggled to type for extended periods, give someone a proper hug, cut a piece of cheese, open a jar or mow the lawn.

These limitations affected his ability to enjoy time with his family and manage everyday life comfortably.

The team on the case reviewed our client’s medical records and instructed an independent orthopaedic consultant to assess the care he received and the consequences of the delay.

Following the expert’s report, the team contacted the relevant NHS Trust. The Trust admitted that it had failed to interpret and report the X-ray correctly. It also admitted that it should have arranged further imaging and an urgent orthopaedic review.

The Trust accepted that, with the correct care, our client would have had a quicker and smoother recovery. He would have experienced less pain and discomfort, achieved a better range of movement, had less prominent scarring and avoided further surgery.

The team worked with NHS Resolution, which handles negligence claims on behalf of NHS organisations, to reach a settlement that reflected our client’s needs.

The settlement covered his past and future needs, but only those arising from the substandard treatment. This ensured the claim focused on the additional harm caused by the failures in his care.

The collaborative approach also helped secure an apology and recognition of our client’s suffering.

The parties reached a settlement to account for our client’s past and future needs arising from the substandard treatment. The source doesn’t disclose the amount of compensation.

Although our client has a permanent injury that he must learn to live with, the settlement recognised the lasting impact of the delayed treatment. He was also grateful to receive an apology.

Natalie Hirst said:

“The parties reached a settlement to account for our client’s past and future needs, but only those needs which arose from substandard treatment. Our client now has a permanent injury which he must learn to live with. His hope is that lessons are also learned by all of those involved in his care. He was grateful for the apology that we obtained for him and the NHS Resolution’s desire to work collaboratively with him to reach resolution.”

Our client also shared his experience of the support he received:

“Natalie listened to me and took me and my pain seriously. She was attentive and prompt throughout. Natalie got me an apology and recognition of my suffering because she understood my story.”

When a serious injury isn’t recognised or treated appropriately, the consequences can affect your everyday life long after the initial incident.

If you believe substandard medical care has caused you harm, Fletchers can help you understand your options and guide you through the claims process.

Find out more about our medical negligence claims service.

Contact us today to speak to our team.