£100,000 and an apology obtained following surgical damage to bile ducts

Julie Crossley, a medical negligence specialist at Ashtons Legal, has obtained a £100,000 damage settlement and an apology from Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Foundation Trust for Ms M after her routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy went wrong.

A surgeon’s error resulted in damage to her bile ducts. This in turn resulted in a biliary leak and the need for urgent corrective surgery, which itself was complicated through difficulty.

Ms M was subjected to a hospital in-patient stay of three and a half weeks and a further operation instead of what should have been a three to five day hospital stay for a routine procedure.

She was unable to return to work for six months and underwent six procedures which wouldn’t have been necessary if the error hadn’t occurred. She also suffered restricted movement, and was unable to sit, stand or walk for long periods. She suffered anxiety, flashbacks and disturbed sleep.