Woman Wins £100,000 Years After Bungled Operation

A woman who endured severe pain for many years after a bungled operation to remove painful corns has won £100,000 in compensation.

The unnamed woman, known only as Mrs P, had the foot operation in 1983, when she was 32 years old. She continued to suffer pain and discomfort, however, but was told by her GP and the hospital consultant that nothing further could be done.

In 2006, her daughter persuaded her to go to a new GP, who referred her to a different consultant. As a result, Mrs P underwent further surgery, which was effective in relieving the pain, and the surgeon who carried out the operation was critical of her earlier treatment. She decided to pursue a claim for damages.

Normally, claims for compensation for clinical negligence must be brought within three years of the date you first knew, or could reasonably have been expected to know, that your injury was caused because of someone else’s error. However, in exceptional circumstances the courts can exercise discretion to allow a case to proceed after the normal time limit has expired. Mrs P was granted leave to proceed with her case.

The Hospital Trust denied any liability, but agreed to settle the claim, for £100,000 plus legal costs, shortly before it was due to come to court.

As well as compensation for her pain and suffering, Mrs P is now able to afford specialist treatment by a chiropodist and the bespoke footwear she requires.