A soldier who underwent surgery in the hope of a cure for his loud snoring but who ended up a contracting a virulent hospital infection which wrecked his life has won more than £1.5 million in compensation from the NHS for his injuries.
The man, a promising warrant officer in the Army Air Corps, was determined to deal with his problem. However, the operation made no difference to his snoring and he fell victim to an infection which left him with a devastating legacy of reactive arthritis and chronic pain disorder. Partially confined to a wheelchair, he is unlikely ever to work again and had spent long periods ‘effectively a prisoner’ in his own home.
On his behalf, his legal team sued the NHS trust responsible for the hospital, which agreed to compensate him on the basis of 63 per cent liability. Noting that his condition was unlikely to improve significantly, the High Court awarded him £1,508,524. That included £93,000 for his pain, suffering and loss of amenity, £435,000 for specialist accommodation and more than £340,000 for his future care.
Chris Woods, Solicitor at Russell Worth solicitors said: “This is a very sad case in which a young man has suffered following complications with what should have been a routine operation.
“Following his visit to hospital, the man contracted a very severe infection which sadly could have been prevented had the appropriate measures been taken.
“The compensation award will help to provide for the care he will now rely on for the rest of his life.”
If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of a hospital infection that could have been prevented, and you would like to speak to us about your legal options, call 0800 028 2060 to speak to a member of the team. Alternatively, we can call you back at a time convenient for you.