Family of Yorkshire stroke patient awarded £500,000 over diagnosis delay that left him needing 24-hour care

The family of a stroke patient in Pinderfields is to be paid £500,000 compensation after the hospital trust admitted delays in diagnosing and treating him.

The man, who was 48 at the time, has been left with severe health problems, including speech, language and memory issues, impaired dexterity in his upper limbs, struggles with balance and suffers falls. He also has abnormalities of eye movements and swallowing difficulties, requiring a soft diet.

The man was taken by ambulance to the Wakefield hospital seven years ago where he underwent a CT scan which showed signs of a basilar artery stroke - a rare form of stroke with a high mortality rate.

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But the scan was reported as being normal by a radiologist, and following that error, it was a further three days before an MRI scan was taken, revealing multiple areas of blood tissue death and the artery blockage again.

PinderfieldsPinderfields
Pinderfields

The patient was then immediately transferred to Leeds General Infirmary for emergency surgery.

It was later determined that had the CT scan been properly interpreted, the patient would have been diagnosed and received emergency treatment to remove the blood clots within a matter of hours.

Although it was accepted he would still have suffered brain damage, it was alleged he would not have been left needing the same level of 24-hour supervision for his own safety, as he now does.

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Medical experts consulted as part of the case said he would likely have avoided some issues such as eye movement and other brainstem damage with quicker treatment, and therefore had something of an improvement in terms of his physical outcome, with a lower risk of falls.

The expert said: “In practical terms, I think this would have meant a quicker recovery and return home and would mean that he would have required support from his wife and family, but would not have needed 24 hours supervision.”

Vince Shore, joint head of clinical negligence at of Hudgell Solicitors, who took on the case, said: “There were a number of failings in care in this case which ultimately denied the patient the opportunity to make the best possible recovery from the very serious stroke he suffered."

In response, David Melia, director of nursing and quality, at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which covers Pinderfields, said this week: “We offer our deepest sympathy and appreciate that this has been a very distressing time.

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“In our own investigation, we recognised that errors occurred, and the treatment fell below the standard we aim to provide.

"We are truly saddened to hear of the impact and lasting effects our patient experienced since his stroke and the effect this has had on his family.

“We are committed to providing the best care we can to our patients and making improvements when this falls short. We have taken on board the learnings from this incident and our staff have worked hard to make improvements to our stroke services.”