Payout for stroke victim left paralysed after being taken to wrong hospital

Lynne Horner had the stroke in 2010 but instead of going to a specialist centre, paramedics had mistakenly taken her to Royal Bolton Hospital.

It was some four hours later before she was transferred to Salford Royal to undergo thrombolysis treatment – a process commonly used to break down blood clots.

The delay meant that it was too late for drugs to have an effect and the 69-year-old was left with a permanent neurological injury.

The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust have since accepted that the decision to take her to Bolton was negligent and in breach of its duty of care.

The trust has paid a seven-figure sum to Mrs Horner, partly by way of compensation and partly to cover the cost of the pensioner’s care.

Husband David said: “I remember the paramedic stating that he didn’t know what to do or which hospital to take my wife to and when we eventually got into the ambulance, it certainly didn’t seem that they were in a rush.

“Lynne will never be independent again, she can’t drive anymore, she needs a wheelchair and help with basic day-to-day things like meal times. We used to lead an active life regularly going to Cyprus on holiday and spending time with our grandkids but that has all changed now.”

Bob Williams, the trust’s chief executive, said: “The NWAS is very sorry that the care given to Mrs Horner did not meet the standard she was entitled to expect and for the distress this has caused her family.

“In the five years since this incident occurred, the clinical supervision, learning, and support given to the ambulance crews for stroke pathway has greatly advanced.”

At Royds, our personal injury team has a wealth of experience representing both claimants and defendants in respect of actions against NHS trusts and clinical negligence claims. For more information please visit or email James Millar Craig.