£17,400 compensation for widower of elderly lady

Posted 08/04/2013

Julie Crossley, a clinical negligence lawyer at Ashtons Legal, has obtained a settlement of £17,400 for the widower of an elderly lady who died having suffered unnecessary pain in hospital during the last months of her life.

She had a complex medical history, and was admitted to hospital because of suspected organ failure. Just over a week after admission she fractured her hip trying to get back into the hospital bed unaided, and the surgery to repair it was carried out with faulty metal work, meaning that the repair failed. 

Meanwhile she developed bed sores and there was an unacceptable delay in providing her with a suitable special mattress. These failures in her care were unacceptable and made her last weeks of life more uncomfortable than should have been the case. Sadly her death was caused by cancer which was diagnosed during her stay in hospital.