A family of a woman who past away soon after doctors failed to diagnose a haemorrhage in the brain have received anout-of-court pay out from the NHS.
Christine Smith, 67, from Devon, died after trained medical staff failed to give her life-saving surgery.
The NHS Trusts involved – Plymouth Hospitals NHS and The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust stated it regretted opportunities were missed and compensated Christine Smith’s family an undisclosed amount in damages.
Mrs Smith had initially gone to the North Devon District Hospital, in Barnstaple, with persistent headaches, vertigo and numbness in the face. She was sent to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where she was examined, but instead of being admitted for an operation an additional appointment was scheduled for the end of July 2009.
She died three days before her appointment in Bristol, from a hemorrhage to the brain after falling at home the day before.
In a joint statement both NHS Trusts involved – Plymouth Hospitals NHS and The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust said they were: “committed to the highest standards of healthcare” and all involved with Mrs Smith “profoundly regret that opportunities were missed”.
Dr Alison Diamond, medical director of the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “I absolutely understand how devastating this must have been for the family and would like to apologise once more for the failure to diagnose in this very sad case.”