Woman sues for clinical negligence after breast reconstruction

Posted 11/03/2010

A woman is suing an NHS hospital for clinical negligence after claiming that her breast reconstruction surgery was botched.

Beverley Webb, 48, opted to have the plastic surgery in July 2007 after having a mastectomy, the Norwich Evening News reports.

However, she alleges that staff at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital did not perform the procedure to a sufficient standard, which caused her to be physically disfigured and mentally scarred.

The patient was left without a breast for 18 months and claims that her relationships suffered as a result of the “adverse impact upon her physical and psychological state”.

Ms Webb is now seeking between £50,000 and £100,000 in compensation for the suffering she was caused.

A statement from the NHS hospital said it is liaising with the NHS Litigation Authority regarding the case.

Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, who heads the medical injury team at Ashtons Legal, commented: “This type of surgery, coming after often very serious illness, needs to be carefully planned and executed and the procedure and risks properly explained.

“In the event that something goes wrong the patient will suffer twice – firstly with the alteration in body image after the initial treatment and again after the reconstruction.

“Anyone considering this type of reconstruction would be best advised to seek out a specialist with an excellent success record and ask to speak to other patients who have undergone the surgery. Compensation can never make up for a poor result in these circumstances but can at least help pay for financial losses and the possibility of further treatment to improve the outcome”.

Statistics from Macmillan Cancer Support state that as many as half of the women who need mastectomies go on to have reconstructive surgery.