Pryers helped a client, *Richard*, to get compensation after a delayed referral for an x-ray led to him suffering a pulmonary embolus.
Richard’s Story
In April 2005 Richard started to suffer from chest pain and shortness of breath. He went to his GP the following day and was diagnosed with ‘musculo-skeletal pain’ in the right side of his chest.
The day after visiting his GP Richard started to cough up blood which continued for two days. On the second day of coughing blood Richard telephoned NHS Direct who advised him to attend his local hospital in the North East of England and to see an out of hours GP at the hospital.
On examination at the hospital Richard told the GP that he had a tight chest and was coughing up blood. He was informed that he may have a fever and was given a form to take back to his usual GP along with some pain relief.
Richard returned to his usual GP at the start of May 2005 and was referred for a chest x-ray on a routine basis, which was due to take place in June 2005.
When Richard arrived at the hospital for his chest x-ray he collapsed and was therefore admitted as an emergency patient. He underwent a number of tests and scans and was diagnosed with a large pulmonary embolus.
Richard was admitted to hospital for treatment and discharged three weeks later.
Pryers helped Richard to get compensation after the delayed referral for an x-ray
Richard contacted Alex McKnight, a medical negligence solicitor at Pryers, in August 2008 having previously instructed another firm who had started proceedings and obtained reports from independent medical experts.
Following lengthy investigations it was found that Richards GP should have referred him for an urgent chest x-ray in April 2005, however, other than Richard requiring a lengthy stay in hospital, the delay had not caused any further injury.
Negotiations to settle commenced in November 2010 and in March 2011 the Defendant put forward an offer to settle for £7,000 which Richard was happy to accept.
The Defendant also paid all of Richard’s legal costs so he received 100% of his compensation and had no costs to pay.
