‘Paul’, 41

Bryony Doyle, a specialist medical negligence solicitor at JMW, represented ‘Paul’ in a legal battle over a hospital’s failure to arrange an appointment, which meant that Paul’s injury went untreated and he lost vision in his right eye. Bryony supported Paul in his claim against the hospital and was successful in obtaining £80,000 in compensation for him.

Delayed appointment

Paul suffered with central serous retinopathy (a build-up of fluid behind the retina in the eye). . The fluid was intermittent and cleared up by itself, but when he suffered a reoccurrence that required him to attend hospital, he was advised that he would need a further appointment to review the build-up of fluid.

Paul did not receive another hospital appointment despite calling the hospital for a date on several occasions. He was advised that his appointment was delayed due to staff shortages. Whilst Paul chased for an appointment the build-up of fluid became more permanent and he started to lose central vision in his right eye. He finally received an appointment two years after fluid had recurred, by which stage his sight had worsened and he was advised that he needed treatment by way of monthly injections.

Paul attended a further appointment to have the injections, which would have resolved the build-up of fluid in his eye, however, due to the passage of time his condition became worse and the treatment was not successful. The hospital then tried to treat Paul’s condition with laser treatment which was unsuccessful and he was sadly advised that nothing more could be done for him because of the amount of time that had passed and he lost the central vision in his eye.

Paul’s central vision is now very blurred and is like looking through frosted glass which means that he finds it difficult to look at screens and cannot carry out daily tasks like he used to. He does have peripheral vision although it is still hard for him to concentrate and causes headaches. He also cannot supervise his children or follow a moving object.

Successful medical negligence case

Paul was concerned by the hospital’s delay in offering him an appointment to review his condition. After being put in touch with JMW’s specialist medical negligence team his case was taken on by Bryony Doyle. Bryony claimed that the hospital had negligently failed to review Paul within a reasonable timeframe which would have led to Paul receiving earlier treatment.  

There was a significant delay from the trust responding to the allegations, however, JMW were able to provide evidence that Paul’s injury would have been treated sooner and he would have avoided losing central vision in his right eye.

Bryony entered into negotiations with the trust who admitted that Paul’s loss of vision was caused by the negligence and agreed to pay him £80,000 in compensation for his pain and suffering and to help him to cope with his disability. Paul also received a letter of apology from the trust.