My wife died after her local hospital failed to diagnose and treat a hernia. My wife was referred to the hospital by her GP but despite this she was sent home without any treatment. My wife remained unwell and attended the hospital again. Despite being in severe pain and discomfort she was sent home again. My wife remained unwell so I called the emergency doctor who attended and immediately diagnosed the problem. However, by this time it was too late and my wife passed away at home in front of me and my family.

The effect on my life and my family was massive. Our lives were shattered. After the initial period of grief I decided to take legal advice to see whether my wife’s death could have been prevented and whether I would be entitled to compensation for the losses me and my family had suffered.

At the outset, my solicitors explained the whole process to me. Given the traumatic events I had been through it was comforting to know that someone was interested in my case and were willing to assist in achieving justice for my late wife. My solicitors also assisted in dealing with my late wife’s estate and attended the inquest into her death.

My solicitors came to see me at home and explained what they could do to help. I was worried about legal costs but they offered me a No Win No Fee agreement which was explained. They told me the steps they would take to investigate the case and I agreed to hire them to investigate my case. They did what they promised to do.

We used some of the country’s best experts to assist with the case. My solicitors paid for the experts’ expenses. We also used an experienced barrister from London who also agreed to act for me on No Win No Fee basis.

The Defendant’s admitted liability and made a substantial offer to settle the case. At the time I was tempted to settle the claim. My solicitors advised me that they thought the case was worth significantly more than the Defendant’s offer. On my solicitor’s advice I rejected the offer. After a period of negotiation my solicitors were able to agree a settlement with the Defendants which was significantly in excess of the Defendant’s initial offer. I was very pleased that the case was dealt with swiftly and without the need for lengthy court proceedings.

No amount of compensation will bring my wife back. However, the compensation will make a big difference to me and my family. We now have financial security and I can concentrate on looking after my family. As part of the settlement, each of my children have a sum of money invested with the Court which will be theirs when they reach the age of 18.

I know that Simon worked very hard for me and my family and I am very grateful for all he has done for me.

I do not think I would have got the amount of compensation I did if it was not for the expertise of Stamp Jackson & Procter.

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Medical Journey: Despite ongoing symptoms, further investigation revealed spondylo-discitis at the L1/2 level with left psoas muscle abscess formation. Although a plan was made for IV antibiotics and further management, the deceased’s condition continued to deteriorate.

Treatment Attempts: Aspiration and drainage of the abscess were attempted twice, with the second attempt being successful. However, the deceased continued to experience severe pain and symptoms of infection. A CT scan confirmed bilateral psoas abscesses, but the recommended drainage was deemed too difficult. She was then discharged, with the abscess considered “essentially resolved.”

Continued Struggles: The deceased’s pain and symptoms persisted, and further investigations revealed the abscess was still present. Despite this, no action was taken to treat her. Some months later, she was readmitted to the hospital with sepsis. Unfortunately, by the time further procedures were carried out, it was too late, and the deceased passed away.

Legal Action: The claim was brought posthumously by the deceased’s family. Our initial action was to support the family through the inquest, with Counsel James Reckitt of Dere Street Chambers representing them. The inquest process involved scrutinizing medical records and key events leading to death. Expert evidence from orthopaedics, radiology, and microbiology was obtained to determine the cause of death.

Inquest Findings: The inquest concluded that there were significant omissions made by the clinical team to identify deterioration of the psoas abscess, to develop any treatment plan or to properly treat the deceased.

The Trust’s failure to act was deemed negligent. If appropriate treatment had been provided, the deceased’s life could have been prolonged.

Outcome: Our support through the inquest process provided the family with closure and understanding of why their mother died. The expert evidence obtained during the inquest allowed us to advance a swift claim against the Defendant Trust post-inquest. Liability was admitted, and the case proceeded to settlement.

This story highlights the importance of thorough medical investigation and timely intervention, as well as the critical role of legal support in achieving justice for families affected by medical negligence.

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Background: Our client approached us to investigate the tragic death of his wife at Hull Royal Infirmary in May 2021. Despite a prior PALS complaint, the family felt many questions remained unanswered and sought closure.

Incident: On the morning of May 14, 2021, the deceased, a healthy 40-year-old, collapsed at home. An ambulance promptly took her to Hull Royal Infirmary. Initially diagnosed with potential seizures or intracranial injury, the deceased experienced chest pain and persistent tachycardia. She suffered multiple collapses in hospital.  A CT scan was ordered, then cancelled without explanation.  Her condition worsened and, tragically, the deceased suffered cardiac arrest and did not survive.

Investigation: A post-mortem revealed the deceased died from a pulmonary embolism and right-sided deep vein thrombosis. We obtained expert evidence and sent a Letter of Claim to the Trust, alleging that a pulmonary embolism should have been considered and treated promptly.

Outcome: The Trust admitted their failures and acknowledged that the deceased’s death could have been prevented had they not failed in their duty of care. They provided a Letter of Apology to her husband and his family.  A six figure damages settlement was agreed with the Trust, ensuring some measure of justice for the deceased’s untimely death.

Our client had the following to say about our service:-

“Words fail me to describe how incredible you have been. You made the whole process easier than it would have been and that’s testament to your professionalism and humility, bearing in mind I was dealing with the most painful situation in my life.

The outcome of the whole process is testament to the knowledge and expertise of the team.  As a family we have always believed that there was a case to answer, and the team managed to tell our story and highlight our concerns better than we could have done without them on our side.

I think no stone was left unturned.  Everything was clearly explained to me from beginning to end.  The flow of information was well managed.  I never felt overwhelmed at any stage.  I felt very much supported during the process.  I couldn’t have asked for more.  Your commitment was unquestionable.

I want to say a big thank you to everyone involved.  You’ve helped bring closure to one of the darkest parts of our lives.  It has not been easy coming to grips with the loss that we suffered as a family.  A special mention to Emma White who has been the driving force of the whole process.”

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