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Woman awarded £18,000 by Welsh Health Board for hysterectomy mistakes

November 3, 2022
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A 45 year old woman has been awarded £18,000 by a health board in North Wales after her bladder was damaged during a hysterectomy.

The woman, referred to as Mrs C, has received the settlement from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board after seeking help from medical negligence specialists at Fletchers Solicitors.

In April 2015, Mrs C was seen in the gynaecology outpatient clinic at the hospital by a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. At this time, it was noted that Mrs C had a history of dysmenorrhea (painful periods/menstrual cramps) and that she would like a hysterectomy.

In December of the same year she was admitted to hospital to undergo a vaginal hysterectomy oophorectomy.

After the surgery Mrs C was advised of the ‘probable small damage to her bladder’ and she was told that she would need a catheter in for two weeks. She was discharged the following day with antibiotics and a catheter in place temporarily.

She attended an appointment a couple of weeks after the operation and the consultant then wrote to her GP confirming that the base of her bladder was damaged and he would see her again in two to three weeks.

At her next appointment it was noted that she had occasional leakage of urine and pain when she ovulated. Two weeks, the Consultant wrote to a consultant urological surgeon, requesting that Mrs C should be seen as a matter of urgency.

The letter stated that her hysterectomy had been “complicated by trauma to the base of the bladder which was over sewn.” It went on to say that she seemed to have developed a vesico-vaginal fistula and an urgent MRI scan was arranged for her. The MRI scan of Mrs C’s pelvis confirmed that there was a vesico-vaginal fistula.

In April 2016, she met with the consultant urologist in his clinic and they discussed various management approaches. She was listed for an urgent cystoscopy and repair of the vesico-vaginal fistula and this took place on June 2, 2016.

When she was examined in July 2016, her bladder had healed well. She was however, left with scarring and needed time off work to recover from the operations.

John Killen, medical negligence solicitor at Fletchers Solicitors, said: “I hope that the compensation Mrs C has received will go towards helping her move on from this ordeal. I wish her all the best for the future.”

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