Extravasation injury leads to long term disability

Our client, Mrs W, was referred to Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to receive a Monofer Infusion. Due to the midwife’s failure to correctly site the cannula before commencing the infusion, Mrs W suffered an extravasation injury, which rendered her in constant pain. Damages of £392,500 were recovered for the pain and suffering and financial losses sustained as a result of the extravasation injury.

During her second pregnancy, in 2013 Mrs W presented to Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust with abdominal pain.

On investigation, she was found to be anaemic and was prescribed Monofer via an intravenous infusion.

During the infusion Mrs W suffered an extravasation injury (damage caused by the monofer escaping into surrounding tissue spaces) in her left arm. The extravasation injury resulted in staining to the left arm, as well as a soft tissue injury.

Despite Mrs W’s reporting to the treating midwives that she was in pain and her arm was discoloured, she was discharged home.

Mrs W suffers from ongoing symptoms as a consequence of the injury including chronic pain and weakness in her left arm. She also suffers from depression. These symptoms impact upon her day to day life and career prospects.

Mrs W instructed Jenny Waight, who specialises in clinical negligence matters. Mrs W medical records were obtained and experts in plastic surgery and nursing were instructed to report on breach of duty and causation.

A letter of claim was subsequently sent to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust alleging that there was a failure to correctly site the cannula prior to commencing the infusion and/or failure to recognise and treat the extravasation injury that occurred as a result.

It appeared that admissions were made by the Trust in their response to the letter of claim; however, these admissions were later retracted upon service of their Defence, once proceedings were issued with the Court.

The Defendant denied liability throughout the course of the litigation, until May 2019, two months prior to Trial when it was admitted there was a failure to correctly site the cannula and that this lead to an extravasation injury. The extent of damage caused to Mrs W, however, remained in dispute.

Jenny successfully negotiated an out-of-court settlement of £392,500, three weeks prior to Trial.

Jenny Waight specialises in clinical negligence cases.  If you would like to ask Jenny a question about a potential case, or if you have a general query about any personal injury, contact Jenny at Thomson Snell & Passmore solicitors on 01892 701374 in confidence.