Claim settled for infection contracted prior to brain surgery under North Bristol NHS Trust’s care

The Claimant had a long history of epilepsy. In 2010 she attended Frenchay Hospital in Bristol (services transferred to Southmead Hospital in 2014) with the intention of having a temporal lobectomy to minimise the symptoms of her epilepsy. After her admission, the claimant was informed that the operation would not occur that day due to an infection on the ward. An infected patient was being kept in a side room which would need to be thoroughly deep cleaned before being used by the Claimant. The clean which took place was inadequate.

The next day the Claimant was admitted to the side room and later underwent craniotomy and insertion of superficial cortical strip electrodes and depth electrodes. Following the surgery she was returned to the side room for monitoring for seizures. Two days later it was recorded that the claimant had “a low grade pyrexia” but no further antibiotics administered. She then underwent a further surgery to remove the electrodes and for a mid-hippocampal on-block resection. It was after this that the Claimant developed symptoms consistent with an infection which was not diagnosed until nearly a month after the initial operation. She spent a further month being treated for the infection and it’s consequences.

As a result of the infection, the Claimant required extensive treatment and rehabilitation. She was left significantly disabled, with an expressive dysphasia, poor balance, difficulties with memory and concentration, visual disturbance, and a loss of confidence. This impacted her ability to conduct day to day physical and mental tasks, and prevented her from working.

The Claimant sued the Trust for compensation and the claim was settled out of Court for £350,000.