A woman who had to have her leg amputated after a botched knee operation has won compensation from the hospital trust.
The 69-year-old, who has not been named, underwent an operation in 2021 at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, near Hull, to replace a prosthetic knee she had had for more than 15 years.
However, the surgeon’s drill slipped, damaging nerves and blood vessels which led to her needing an above-knee amputation after emergency repair surgery failed, said her lawyers at Hudgell Solicitors.
A spokeswoman for Humber Health Partnership, which includes Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘We are very sorry for what this patient has been through. »
Solicitor Sam Darwin, a medical negligence claims specialist who represented the woman, said: « This was a life-changing surgical error as a result of the procedure not being conducted with enough care.
« It was simply unacceptable and we were pleased that the trust made immediate admissions once our case was put to them. »
The woman spent four months in hospital undergoing rehabilitation and recovery before she was discharged and now has to use a wheelchair.
« I went in for an operation which was supposed to give me better mobility and ensure I was able to maintain my independence, but it ended up taking almost everything from me, » she said.
She took legal action against the hospital trust in a bid to get compensation to cover the cost of future care support and equipment to improve her quality of life.
She said that as a result of the error she had « really struggled physically and psychologically », including trying out prosthetic legs which « kept falling off because of how high the amputation is ».
« I’m still angry and bitter, » she added.
Her husband, who had cancer treatment through the NHS, said: « As a family, we’ve also benefited from excellent NHS care, so I just feel my wife has been so badly let down by an individual. »
He said on the day of the operation he was « told nothing other than she was in recovery ».
« I can never forgive them for that and I don’t think relatives and patients should be treated in that way, » he said.
A spokesperson for the trust said: « While every procedure is undertaken with the intention of providing safe, effective care, we recognise that things can go wrong.
« When they do, we are committed to being open with patients and families, investigating incidents thoroughly, and using the learning to reduce the risk of recurrence.
« We have worked with the patient’s legal representatives to reach a fair settlement, but we recognise that compensation cannot change what has happened or fully address the impact on the patient and her family. »
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