CES Patient Awarded Over £1million For Delays in Treatment

Fiona suffered a six month delay in the diagnosis and treatment of her cauda equina syndrome. She is now wheelchair-bound, is incontinent of urine and faeces, and is unable to work.

When Fiona began to experience pain in her right leg, along with pins and needles in her right toe, her GP diagnosed sciatica and referred her for physiotherapy. Over the course of the next five months, she returned repeatedly to her GP surgery with worsening, excruciating symptoms. She was also developing further symptoms, including difficulty urinating, weakness in her legs, and numbness around her buttocks, vagina and perineum.

Each time Fiona would be given more painkillers and told to continue with physiotherapy. She had numerous appointments with a physiotherapist but it did not improve her condition.

Eventually, Fiona underwent an MRI scan but while she was waiting for the results her symptoms suddenly became much worse, with complete loss of sensation in her saddle area and urinary dysfunction.

In light of her symptoms, she made an emergency GP appointment but was told that nothing could be done until the MRI results were received.

Shortly after this appointment Fiona began to wet herself during the night. She continually chased the hospital for the MRI results, and a letter finally arrived, confirming that she had a slipped disc and required further physiotherapy.

Fiona immediately called the hospital but her consultant was not available to talk to. She tried again the next day and was offered an appointment with a different consultant for the following day.

When Fiona met with the consultant he asked for a full description of her symptoms. He became concerned and asked the opinion of a second consultant. Within a matter of hours, Fiona was admitted to hospital, diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome and taken to theatre for decompression surgery.

She remained in hospital for one week, after which she was discharged. However, she now could not move around the house without using a full body zimmer frame. She also found she had little sensation in her saddle area and could not control the passing of wind, faeces and urine.

Sadly these issues have turned out to be permanent. Fiona has become wheelchair-bound and has lost her job. Her symptoms mean that she barely leaves the house, making future employment almost impossible.

This terrible outcome could have been avoided if doctors had recognised the red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome at an earlier stage. There were many opportunities when a diagnosis could have been made, which would have led to timely treatment and an improved prognosis.

We helped Fiona make a claim for the physical, emotional and financial damage she has experienced. She was awarded in excess of £1,000,000 compensation.

(Details which might identify our client have been changed.)

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