Lady receives over £1million in compensation following negligent treatment after her hip surgery

Ms S had a long history of problems with her left hip. After experiencing pain in early 2009, she underwent surgery to resurface her hip in March that year.

Following the procedure, her wound remained open for 28 weeks and became severely infected. She was readmitted to hospital in April 2009 with a serious infection in her hip.

The infection required numerous operations to control. A full hip replacement followed in September 2010, but Ms S continued to experience complications.

The infection caused severe damage to Ms S’s leg and hip. She later needed further operations and experienced wound and bone infections that required extensive steroid treatment.

The consequences were life-changing. Ms S became wheelchair-bound and could no longer work or walk. She also needed extensive daily care.

The impact went beyond her physical health. The prolonged legal process and the changes to her everyday life took a significant emotional toll on her.

Ms S brought a claim against the NHS Trust, alleging that it failed to explore and clean the hip properly following the 2009 operation. She also alleged that the Trust failed to treat the deep infection appropriately when she returned to hospital in April 2009.

The Trust admitted in February 2014 that it had breached its duty of care by failing to treat the post-operative infection adequately in April 2009. It accepted that this failure had caused harm to Ms S.

Ms S’s case was that, if the infection had been treated appropriately in April 2009, she would probably have recovered fully from it. She believed she would have been able to return to work full-time and manage daily activities without assistance.

Although the NHS Trust admitted liability relatively early, reaching a settlement took considerable work. The team on the case had to continue pushing for a resolution that reflected the extent of Ms S’s injuries and her future needs.

The claim involved complex medical evidence about the infection, the treatment she received and the lasting harm she experienced. The team worked to establish the impact of the admitted negligence and the support Ms S would need as a result.

The case settled for more than £1 million, seven months before the scheduled trial. This meant Ms S could bring the legal process to a close without going through a trial.

Ms S described the impact of the surgery and the support she received during the claim:

“It was the best decision I could have made. Maya has been a close part of my life since that 1st call, she consulted me & my close family on every development of my case. She has supported us when times got extremely difficult & gave me a pep talk when needed. Maya has always been professional & has fought extremely hard every step of the way & ensured I had the best experts & advice to aid my claim.”

Ms S received compensation in excess of £1 million. The settlement recognised the serious, lasting impact of the infection and the care she would need in the future.

For Ms S, the compensation provided the means to receive the best care possible for the rest of her life. It also brought a long and stressful legal process to an end.

Her case shows why it matters to investigate potential medical negligence thoroughly. Where treatment causes life-changing harm, compensation can help provide financial support for the care a person needs going forward.

When medical treatment causes serious harm, the consequences can affect every part of your life. You may be facing ongoing care needs while trying to understand what went wrong and whether you can make a claim.

Fletchers’ specialist medical negligence solicitors can help you understand your legal options. We’ll explain the process clearly and guide you through the next steps.

Explore our medical negligence claims service and contact us today to discuss your circumstances.