Police officer files claim
It has been revealed that a police officer has launched an accident claim, in a bid to win his legal action against a hospital.
The worker, who was injured in a freak accident whilst on duty, has filed a medical negligence claim, because he alleges failures in the Hampshire hospital he attended led to a leg amputation.
The officer, 37, was responding to a 999 call when he tripped over a small piece of fence and injured his knee. After his personal injury he was taken to Southampton General Hospital.
Whilst there, he became seriously ill and after his condition significantly worsened, his right leg was amputated. His injury lawyers claim that it was due to hospital delays that their client lost his leg.
Professional negligence occurs
The blunders happened, according to the claim, when the patient went on to develop an infection and high temperature, suffering hallucinations and sickness. When he reported the stiffness in his toes, medics didn’t treat him.
Six days after the accident, in November, the PC was seen by a new doctor who was said to have been immediately concerned and organised an urgent MRI scan within an hour.
It revealed a blocked artery behind his knee which was preventing blood from flowing into his leg. Urgent surgery was recommended but allegedly delayed by other medical staff, who said a theatre was not available to carry out the operation.
The following day, he underwent surgery, where he was told there was ‘a possibility’ of amputation. After he woke up from the operation, he found that his right leg had been amputated above the knee.
Changed life
The policeman spoke of his ordeal and revealed how his life has changed for the worse: “I am in a lot of pain and get regular attacks of phantom limb pain. I would describe this as an electric pain where I feel my foot should be.
“I am trying to stay positive, however I am finding things incredibly frustrating. Doing ordinary daily things is difficult, everything takes a long time. Nothing is easy any more. It is very hard to think that the need for amputation might have been avoided.”
Paul Sankey, a partner at the lawyer firm acting for the claimant said: “For a young man to lose a leg is devastating but to know that the loss could have been avoided by proper care is worse. The delays were unacceptable and we will be seeking compensation.”
Responding to the claim, hospital bosses say an internal review into the care of the patient is still ongoing, three months later.
Dr Michael Marsh, medical director at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This has been a personal tragedy for Mr Wilson and his family and we extend our deepest sympathy. An internal review of his care was launched immediately and while this is still ongoing we have now shared our initial findings with the family.
“We have been open and honest [...] throughout our investigation and are committed to ensuring that the process is completed as swiftly as possible.”Updated on 04/03/2010