Woman in £2.5 Million Medical Negligence Win

A woman who came away from what should have been a routine operation with permanent brain damage has won £2.5 million in compensation after a seven year battle with the courts.

Since the operation, Patricia Richards, aged 61, has had a radical personality change and now requires constant care, which her husband provides.

Mrs. Richards, a mother of two, was finally awarded the substantial payout after the hospital admitted that doctors were at fault when they failed to carry out routine checks during the operation.

Her husband, Robert Richards, was praised by the judge for the dedication he has shown in his efforts to provide his wife with round the clock support.

Mr. Richards has been forced to give up his job as a car salesman and sell the family home in order to provide the care that his wife now needs as a result of the botched operation.

He told Manchester County Court how he now regularly survives on just three hours sleep per night as he is nursing his wife.

The multi million pound settlement means that after seven long years of being cared for by her husband, Mrs Richards can now afford the professional care she needs.

Back in 2001, Mrs Richards was admitted to hospital for a routine operation at Rochdale infirmary.

During the operation, while she was under anaesthetic, staff failed to monitor her vital signs and she suffered permanent brain damage as a result of lack of oxygen.

This has meant that since the operation, her personality has changed drastically and she now needs help with even the most simple of tasks.

Later on in life it is believed that her condition will worsen, and she will need round the clock professional care.

The money which the family have been awarded covers Mrs Richards loss of earnings and the money which the family lost through the forced sale of their home.

The compensation will be paid out in an initial lump sum of £750,000, followed by annual payments of £100,000 plus inflation.

Pennine Acute NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, had denied negligence until late 2007 and has already sent a written apology to the family.

Following the victory, the family, including Mrs Richards two daughters, Karen and Yvette, as well as four grandchildren, said that the cash would not compensate them for what had happened.

Mr Richards said: "The settlement is a great relief, but no amount of money can compensate for the damage done to Pat."

Solicitor Brendan Hope, a medical negligence expert from Manchester law firm Pannone, said: "Patricia's condition worsened over a crucial 45-minute period, during which she suffered irreparable damage.

"If doctors had spotted the problem as they should have done, she would not have suffered injury."

Approving the settlement, A Pennine NHS trust spokeswoman said: " The trust wishes Mrs Richards and her family well for the future."


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