£150,000 for negligent gastric band treatment at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Our client had been admitted to Barnet General Hospital with classic symptoms of a slipped gastric band, namely intense abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and a difficulty in swallowing.

Despite it being known that the claimant had a gastric band no imaging was taken, only blood tests and she was discharged with a diagnosis of gastroentritis.

The following day the claimant was admitted once more, by ambulance, to Barnet Genral Hospital. Her abdominal pain had increased and was now radiating to her back, she had reflux, nausea and vomiting and could not even swallow her own saliva.

There was a further delay before the possibility of a slipped gastric band was entertained and in carrying out an x-ray. By the time the band slip had been confirmed the claimant's stomach had started to die. She had to have emergency surgery to remove a third of her stomach, required a long stay in ICU and further surgery and was left with permanent disturbance of her digestion and intolerance of food and the need for a special diet.