£9,000 obtained for family of an elderly man who died following inadequate hospital care

Posted 20/04/2015

Julie Crossley, a clinical negligence specialist at Ashtons Legal, has obtained £9,000 for the family of Mr Thomas who died just over a year after first being admitted to hospital for surgery following a fall. While his surgery was conducted appropriately, a catalogue of errors in his after-care resulted in problems with pressure sores and dramatic weight loss relating to lack of hydration and poor nutrition.　

Julie comments: “Mr Thomas’ health went into a downward spiral and this was not remedied in spite of his family consulting the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and meeting with the Chief Executive of the hospital concerned. The tragedy here is that the initial problem was treated appropriately; it was the subsequent diagnosis and management of his pressure ulcers and nutrition and hydration which led to his untimely death. Unfortunately we see too many instances where the problem lies with the after-care rather than the actual surgery particularly where elderly patients are concerned.”