£18,500 Settlement
In brief, the Case relates to the Claimant undergoing tooth extraction under a general anaesthetic at Halton Hospital, part of the Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Claimant attended Halton Hospital on 6th February 2013 for a routine removal of LL8 and LR8 as the teeth had become impacted and were causing the Claimant some pain.
The extraction was successful, however the Claimant suffered a burn to her lower lip measuring 0.5cms wide by 3cms long. The burn occurred as the drill used in the procedure became over heated. The Claimant was seen by the surgeon immediately after surgery and apologised and explained what had happened. The surgeon continued to see the Claimant after surgery to make sure that the burn was healing.
The Claimant originally experienced a lot of pain and discomfort with burn to her lip, especially when eating. The Claimant also became very self-conscious in relation to the burn to her lipped as it was unsightly and then developed into an angry red scar. The Claimant had to wear make up on a daily basis (not previously warn this often) to try and hide the scar but it was still noticeable.
Positive medical Evidence was obtained from our expert who advised that the drill should have been checked prior to the Claimant’s surgery to ensure that it was functioning correctly. He advised that the burn should never have been allowed to occur as the surgeon should be regulating the temperature of the drill and constantly assessing for increased levels of heat during the procedure.
The NHSLA accepted the Claimant’s offer of £18,500. The Claimant was delighted with the outcome and the settlement figure.
