Compensation for Necrotising Fasciitis After Substandard Abscess Care
Maggie had experienced problems with abscesses on her left buttock on and off for several years. She had regularly sought medical help from her GP surgery and had been provided with antibiotics.
When she felt another lump developing in the same location, and also started to feel unwell, she went to Accident and Emergency. The abscess was drained and Maggie was discharged home with a plan for GP surgery wound management.
As instructed, Maggie went to the surgery the following day, where her wound was re-dressed and she was provided with pain relief.
Unfortunately, by the following morning, when she returned to the surgery, Maggie was feeling extremely unwell. She had a high temperature, rapid pulse and high respiratory rate. An ambulance was called and Maggie was transferred to hospital with suspected sepsis.
On examination at hospital, it was found that Maggie had developed necrotising fasciitis, a life-threatening soft-tissue infection which is a medical emergency. She was given intravenous antibiotics, the abscess was drained again and considerable removal of tissue on her left buttock was carried out, this being the only way to stop the spread of the infection.
Over the following days, Maggie, who was by now severely unwell, had to undergo further tissue debridement procedures and had a loop colostomy carried out to provide a stoma to facilitate healing and bowel function. After almost three weeks of traumatic illness and extreme surgical intervention, she was discharged home.
Not surprisingly, this terrible experience has left Maggie struggling with considerable disability and emotional distress. Necrotising fasciitis is a virulent infection which causes the decay of tissue and which requires the removal of all infected tissue to prevent further spread. A rare but potentially deadly infection, it can be a harrowing experience for those unfortunate people who develop it.
Maggie's stoma remained in place for five years and she is now trying to manage without it but is still suffering with bowel symptoms which cause significant practical problems and which have undermined her self-confidence.
She has been unable to return to her job and is anxious about bowel accidents on the rare occasions when she leaves her home.
When Glynns started to investigate the quality of Maggie's medical care, the recurring question was around why she had not been referred for specialist investigation long before her repeated experience of abscesses reached such a crucial point.
Our GP expert was of the view that the long-standing nature of Maggie's recurring problem with abscesses should have prompted a discussion by her GPs for the need to investigate the underlying cause. To provide antibiotics on a regular basis but not to consider the need for specialist assessment represented substandard care.
Maggie had been struggling with this problem for a long time and would have welcomed a solution.
Had she been referred for surgical assessment on an earlier occasion, her underlying problem should have been treated and her later abscess, causing necrotising fasciitis and a host of appalling and life-changing consequences, would not have developed.
Maggie was awarded more than £200,000.00 in compensation for her pain, suffering and the distressing emotional and financial impact that this incident has had on her quality of life.
(Details which might identify our client have been changed.)
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