Sarah Corbett, Partner in the Clinical Negligence Team at Taylor Rose secured a £33,750 settlement for the family of a client who suffered severe complications after a feeding tube was incorrectly placed during a routine hospital procedure, extending what should have been a 2-3 day stay into more than 10 weeks in hospital.
Summary
Our client, who was living with motor neurone disease, was admitted to hospital for a short procedure to fit a feeding tube. Due to an error in how the tube was placed, feed was mistakenly delivered into her abdominal cavity rather than her stomach, causing serious infection and a life-threatening deterioration in her condition. What was meant to be a 2-3 day hospital stay became a stay of more than 10 weeks. Taylor Rose pursued a clinical negligence claim on the Claimant’s behalf, securing an admission of breach of duty from the hospital trust and a settlement of £33,750 by way of a Part 36 offer.
Context
Our client was living with an advanced, progressive neurological condition and needed a feeding tube fitted to support her nutrition. She was originally expected to be in hospital for only 2-3 days and had arranged care for her children accordingly. After an initial method of fitting the tube was unsuccessful, doctors used an alternative technique involving radiological guidance to insert the tube.
The day after the procedure, she began to suffer significant abdominal pain and swelling. Scans later showed that the tube had not been correctly placed or securely positioned in her stomach, so when she was fed through it, the feed passed into her abdominal cavity instead. This caused a serious infection and a rapid, dangerous decline in her health, to the point where her family were warned she might not survive.
Challenge
This was a complex clinical negligence claim on several fronts. Our client had an extensive medical history due to her underlying condition. The hospital trust initially disputed important aspects of what had happened, and expert evidence in radiology was essential to establish that the standard of care had fallen short.
The case became still more complex when our client sadly passed away during the claim, having survived the initial complications but suffering an ongoing, permanent impact on her quality of life. The claim then had to be carried forward by her family as executors, and further expert
evidence was needed to determine whether her death was connected to the substandard care she received, or to the natural progression of her underlying condition.
Solution
Our specialist clinical negligence team took a thorough, evidence-led approach at every stage:
We obtained and carefully reviewed the extensive medical records to build a clear picture of what had gone wrong.
We instructed an independent radiology expert, who confirmed that the imaging available at the time showed the feeding tube had not been properly and securely placed in the stomach.
We formally notified the hospital trust of the claim, securing an admission that the standard of care had fallen below what was required.
When our client sadly passed away, we supported her family through the transition, ensuring the claim continued smoothly under the stewardship of her executor.
We instructed a further medical expert to assess whether our client's death was linked to the substandard care she received, ensuring the claim reflected the true circumstances with the benefit of specialist, independent opinion.
We negotiated firmly on the family's behalf, rejecting an early offer that undervalued the claim and instead building a well-evidenced case for a fair settlement, ultimately agreeing £33,750 in full and final settlement.
Impact
Our persistence and attention to detail secured formal acknowledgement from the hospital trust that its care had fallen short, giving the family the answers and accountability they deserved. The settlement recognised the additional suffering, prolonged hospital stay, and lasting impact on quality of life that resulted from the error, providing the family with a measure of justice at what was already an extremely difficult time. Throughout, our team ensured the family were supported and kept informed, even as the claim evolved following their mother's death.
How Taylor Rose Can Help
This case highlights the importance of having experienced clinical negligence specialists on your side when medical care falls short of the standard patients are entitled to expect. Whether an error occurs during a routine procedure or as part of ongoing treatment, our team has the expertise to investigate thoroughly, secure independent expert evidence, and pursue fair compensation, however complex the circumstances. If you or a family member have been affected by substandard medical care, our clinical negligence team is here to help you understand your options
