NHS Patient Wins Settlement for Undiagnosed Fractures

A man who was left in agony after a failed operation has won a six-figure sum in damages.

In October 2004, Gerald Morgan, 60, had a spinal stimulator implanted at the Royal London Hospital to help combat pain he had suffered from for many years. However, when the stimulator was turned on for the first time, it made his muscles contract violently. The force was so great that he was thrown out of his wheelchair and suffered fractures to bones in his pelvis and hips.

Despite the evident pain and bruising that Mr Morgan suffered after the stimulator was turned on, the fractures were not diagnosed and he was sent home three days later. His GP failed to refer him for X-rays, even though Mr Morgan was clearly in considerable pain.

The fractures were not diagnosed until seven months after the operation. By this time, Mr Morgan’s hips and legs had become permanently deformed and he now has to use a wheelchair.

A claim was brought against Barts and the London NHS Trust and against Mr Morgan’s GP. For five years, all liability for Mr Morgan’s injuries was denied. Eventually, however, a six-figure sum in damages was agreed. Mr Morgan is now planning to use the money to buy a home suitable for his needs.

Click here for further information on claiming compensation for medical negligence.