English
What should have been a routine procedure for kidney stones turned into an agonising case of medical negligence for one client. Paisley Laws, a Trainee Solicitor in medical negligence at Simpson Millar, explains how a delayed post-op review led to painful complications and the pursuit of justice.
For a number of months, Wa Monga Mikombe, the claimant in this case, had been suffering from pain in the right-hand regions of his abdomen and loin. Following a consultation with his GP, Mr Mikombe was referred to the Urology Department at North Manchester General Hospital, where a CT scan of his urinary tract revealed a 9mm kidney stone.
He was placed on a waiting list for corrective surgery: a flexible ureteroscopy and stone laser fragmentation with stent insertion. Two months later, Mr Mikombe underwent the treatment.
It was the intention of the hospital for the client to return as an outpatient for a follow-up in 4 weeks' time. The appointment would have seen him X-rayed and, dependent upon the success of the procedure, the stent removed.
Unfortunately for Mr Mikombe, things did not go to plan.
We're rated‘Excellent’Instead of the intended 4 weeks after the initial procedure, the appointment was scheduled for 5 months later. It was to be an appointment he wouldn't make.
A month prior to the planned date, Mr Mikombe was admitted to Accident & Emergency with severe pains. He had been suffering renal and bladder pain, along with strangury – a condition that obstructs the bladder and causes acute pain and an overpowering desire to urinate. These symptoms were all related to the stent, necessitating its prompt removal.
Two weeks later he was admitted to hospital again, this time with further abdominal pains and urosepsis, a form of the life-threatening condition localised to the urinary tract. It was revealed he had an enflamed kidney, the result of a retained stone present in that organ and further surgery was needed to remedy it. Mr Mikombe went on to make a full recovery.
Our Medical Negligence Solicitors took on Mr Mikombe's case and a Letter of Claim was sent off to the Hospital Trust responsible for his treatment.
The allegations of negligence made against Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust included:
It was argued that the failure to review Mr Mikombe's surgery within the expected time caused:
The Hospital Trust responded to the Letter of Claim admitting their negligence in failing to arrange the follow up review within the intended timeframe. They denied that this had caused the eventual need for surgery, claiming that renal obstruction and urosepsis would have developed anyway, requiring emergency treatment.
An offer of £1,000 was made to settle the claim.
Mr Mikombe was advised by our medical negligence team to reject such a low settlement and having done so, a second offer of £4,000 was made. Once again, this was rejected.
Further negotiations took place between our Medical Negligence Solicitors and the representatives of the Hospital Trust and the case was finally settled for £6,750.
"I would like to thank Simpson Millar for both the result and the service I received, in particular Paisley Laws for her kind attention while dealing with my claim. It has been very much appreciated. If I require the services of a Solicitor for any reason in the future, I shall use Simpson Millar again."
Mr Mikombe
Client
For more information see Hospital Negligence Claims or Medical Negligence Case Studies.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0808 239 6043
