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Hospital’s five-figure payout for emergency hysterectomy (4 November 2013)

Date: 04/11/2013
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors,  Hospital’s five-figure payout for emergency hysterectomy

The Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham has paid a five-figure sum to a woman who underwent a complete hysterectomy at the age of 19.

Hayley Sanders, 23, from Chelmsley Wood in Birmingham, gave birth at Heartlands Hospital in December 2009 after an emergency Caesarean section.

However, her lawyer alleges Ms Sanders contracted an infection during four internal examinations prior to the C-section. She was discharged from Heartlands Hospital with a high temperature, but was re-admitted two days later. She spent several days in hospital before undergoing a hysterectomy after the infection developed into severe abdominal sepsis.

Her lawyer alleges the hysterectomy would not have been necessary if the infection had been diagnosed earlier and treated with antibiotics.

The case was due to be heard at the High Court, but an out-of-court settlement was agreed by the Heart of England NHS Trust and Ms Sanders in October.

The trust has not accepted liability, however, but wished Ms Sanders “all the best”.

The young mother says she is “disgusted” that she has not even received an apology from the trust – and added that the operation has robbed her of the chance to give her young son a brother or sister.

“I expected to be able to go home, bond with him, see his first smile, his first chuckle and I never got to see any of that,” said Ms Sanders, describing her first few days of motherhood.

“I saw hospital ward after hospital ward, operation after operation.

“I would have one day been able to give him a little brother or sister. Instead, I was robbed of this – and have been left with a host of ongoing problems that are a constant reminder of the failings in this case.”

The trust said in a statement:

“We take the care and safety of all our patients very seriously. Hayley Sanders suffered complications during the delivery of her son.”

Ms Sanders’ solicitor has called for an apology from the trust, as well as improvements in training for staff at the Heartlands Hospital.


Cases involving misdiagnosis or wrong diagnosis, or poor treatment or wrong treatment – or failure to treat – fall under the area of law known as personal injury.

For more information about making a personal injury claim, contact Duncan Lewis’ personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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