This Is Cheshire

Claims give health trust a headache

From the archive, first published Thursday 9th Feb 2006.

CASH-strapped Leighton Hospital and Victoria Infirmary is facing another financial headache as it contends with a series of claims for medical negligence.

The Guardian has already revealed how Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust is facing a £5.7 million deficit this year and plans to cut the number of beds, introduce a recruitment freeze and axe managers.

Now a new report, which went before the board on Monday, reveals the trust could pay out more than £300,000 in medical negligence claims from South and Mid Cheshire patients.

The most serious case involves a patient who alleges there was a three-year delay in him being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

He is claiming damages of £150,000 and the costs for both sides could run to another £30,000, hospital bosses have been told.

One of the major claims - for £25,000 damages - is by a patient who says the hospital failed to diagnose a heart aneurysm.

Lawyers representing the family of another Leighton patient are claiming £20,000 damages, alleging the hospital failed to monitor a patient for vascular disease.

They claim the patient developed septicaemia and died.

Other claims include an allegation that staff in the obstetrics department failed to notice 'signs of foetal distress' with a woman patient which led to a baby being stillborn

Further claims by medical staff, involved in a variety of industrial accidents, from being struck by a falling drip stand to a back injury sustained while handling a 10-litre milk carton, totalling at least £17,000, have also been lodged with the trust.

Jerry Park, the Trust's director of risk management, said: "Compared to the number of patients we treat each year, the number of claims is relatively small.

"It is not unusual for the Trust to receive three claims in any quarter year."

"Every claim the Trust receives is investigated fully. After that process is completed, the Trust could deny liability for any or all claims. Any damages may be less than those forecast."

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