A former telecommunications executive has received a £3 million payout after a hospital trust failed to treat septic arthritis with antibiotics.
London newspaper the Evening Standard reports that Tristan Rosevear, 47, went to A&E at St Mary’s in Paddington, west London in November 2010 with low blood pressure and an elevated heart rate.
He was not given antibiotics for septic arthritis, however – and was diagnosed with septic shock three days after admission.
Mr Rosevear suffered a stroke and needed resuscitation. He experienced multiple organ failure and required urgent brain surgery.
Mr Rosevear has been left with limited mobility and has difficulty communicating as a result of the stroke.
Mr Rosevear’s wife, Janine Abery, 48, gave up a film industry career to care for her husband.
She said after the compensation award was agreed:
“He is a different person now, though he has improved ten-fold.
“He is unable to read, write or speak coherently to anyone who doesn’t know him. It’s been a long road.
“It’s been more than four-and-a-half years since Tristan’s stroke – and frustrating that they did not see fit to settle earlier than they did.
“I hope the NHS can up its game, so nobody else’s family has to suffer what Tristan’s has – he was admitted on a Friday night and had no treatment whatsoever over the weekend.
“I have got absolutely nothing good to say about that weekend at St Mary’s,” Ms Abery added.
St Mary’s hospital paid for a couple to fly to their native New Zealand on a medical plane, however, to help Mr Rosevear’s recuperation.
The NHS Litigation Fund compensation includes a lump sum of £1.5 million and annual payments for the next 20 years for Mr Rosevear’s rehabilitation and care.
A spokesman for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said:
“The trust apologises unreservedly for the treatment at our hospital in 2010.
“The standard of care fell below that which we strive to provide.
“We carried out an investigation – and measures have been put in place to ensure that we deliver the safe, high-quality care that our patents deserve.”
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