To effectively sue the nhs :/

[HarriwithanI]

This is mega outing with my name and condition, If you know me please respect my privacy.
I work for the nhs but also been neglected massively.

after 10 days in the hospital I work in I lost all feeling from my hips down (couldn’t feel when I needed to wee or walk) was told it was my mental health and functional. Blue lighted to a specialist hospital turns out ecuda equida and basically I’m extremely lucky not to be paralysed.

WWYD? Feel so let down and when at a low emotionally and physically time everything was put down to weight and mental health when it was something that could’ve been/is seriously life changing. I don’t want it happen to anyone else

Unfortunately this.
When my partner died, the only way I could get them to recognise it as avoidable and due to a series of "Never events" (funny how often they happen really 🤔) was to push for a full inquest and then instruct solicitors.
I didn't get any sort of apology, but found out through NHS workers I know that policy was changed so it wouldn't happen again.
The people saying "Well you're OK now aren't you?" We PAY for this shit show and we are not taken sseriously unless we go down the route of suing.
So I say go for it.
It's all done through insurance anyway. You aren't stealing from cancer patients.

I'm sure if it wasn't the nhs and stated funded you'd be getting different replies.

Classic signs of a serious condition that needed a MRI but you told "it's all in your head?"

Being OK in the end wouldn't be OK with me either.

I’m a doctor (old account hence username) I rarely post. I am horrified!!!! Saddle numbness and urinary retention are “red flags” that I ask everyone. You needed an urgent mri. Vast majority of hospital do not have spinal surgeons but we can easily refer online or discuss via phone to hospitals that do.

Please speak to pals. This is awful, cauda equine should not be missed. This doctors involved need to learn from this incident.

My first thought would be something along the spine impacting your nerves
MH? That would be my last thought! And I'm admin!

I agree with others that you might not be able to sue if you get full function.

But as a doctor I am shocked people are telling you that it’s fine. It’s not fine. You received substandard care. Delaying surgery can lead to permanent paralysis, all doctors in a specialties know this. It’s frequently taught at medical school. Even a psychiatrist knows!

ps psychiatrists know lots but obviously do less physical medicine now. I know minimal about mental health.

There’s something very different between complaining and suing.

To sue you have to prove some sort of loss. This would be financial loss or a change to your physical health that affects your life. You then need to prove that this loss occurred because of negligence as opposed to you simply having CE. Many people suffer life changing illnesses and accidents but there are often no grounds to sue. It’s just a bit sh*t happens (please read to the end before flaming me!!)

To complain officially would mean that a thorough review should be completed regarding your case. The results of a complaint can also help you decide if you have grounds to sue.

I’ve been in your shoes. I had CE due to a tumour in my spine. I had been going to the doctors for 16 years about “niggles” in my back which were getting progressively worse. They were written off as back spasms or as a result of aches and pains after childbirth or even down to my age. It was only when I could barely walk that I got an MRI and 10 days later I was on the operating table. I am now absolutely fine.

I do ask myself how it went unnoticed for so many years though. There’s also the “why me?” question. It all just felt so unfair. Then I remind myself that what I went through was very rare. Yes it should have been picked up sooner but I wouldn’t say anyone was negligent. It was just a bit sh*t happens.

You are probably still rather out of it on the post op drugs you’ll take for the next few months. Let the dust settle. Get weaned off the meds and only then work out a plan of action.

Wishing you all the best for your recovery.

That ^^

I had CE, but I knew somehow I had it and told a&e and was operated on. It took them 5hrs to sort out the mess in my back and I was off work recovering for months
I never lost bladder or bowel control but I still have residual numbness and back pain and I was lucky!

Sorry i have named this wrong it should be complain NOT sue.
sorry I’m not replying individually.
just wanted to reply to some, yes was left 10 days no examination, in bed unable to move with a catheter being told I was big and needed to poo.

A million percent yes complain- as you say there should be lessons learnt from this (optimistic I know).

My care was delayed to the point I was told by a (new) consultant that I was less than 48 hours from death when they took over care.

I have done nothing because I couldn't face it, although I do think massive errors were made.

Since you’re fine and not paralysed I wouldn’t sue. I would however make a complaint. Some hospital trusts are better then others with some conditions. My mum suffered pain and couldn’t wee for 12 hours and I took her to the gp. We were sent to hospital straight away as they suspected cauda equina. Thankfully it wasn’t but what I’m saying is some doctors are more on the ball with it then others and they should definitely be trained more.

The trouble is your condition may have changed or got worse over that time.

Was the issue with your bowels/bladder present when you were first examined?

My husband had spinal surgery and was told he was the most injured patient neurology had still seen walking and talking. He was sent away from the GP three times with sciatica but as soon as his pee was mentioned he went straight to the hospital.

He had walked a mile and a half to the doctor's surgery. Were you still working? The problem is when you are managing you don't necessarily meet the thresholds they are expecting to see but everyone deals with pain differently. Do you have a high pain threshold? If so it is worth explaining this in future.

just wanted to reply to some, yes was left 10 days no examination, in bed unable to move with a catheter being told I was big and needed to poo.

That's awful !

You were finally correctly diagnosed and treated. I know why you are angry now but it will fade. I had a similar thing years ago with my gp saying my symptoms were stress/anxiety/weight related when in fact it was hyperthyroidism, I was lucky as I insisted on changing gps and took me seriously it was very far gone by then and I was angry for a while. Not anymore though.

@Crimeismymiddlename you’ll see I’m actually going through trouble with hyperparathyroidism atm and done a post on it but it’s at the back on my mind.

no neuro examinations in 10 days just the mri saying the changes followed by the emergency one day 10 that said I had equdia Equina - 3 days after I said the type of saddle numbness/pain had changed and I finally had an examination.

It's good the anger faded with time but that was only your experience. OP might need some counselling if their experience and health has lasting, long term side effects.

I’m so sorry about your husband :(

Just an update I’ve not “sued” I wrote this in anger. I think the shock has worn off and all I do is cry.
the actual Hospital that ended up doing the surgery were shocked how long I was left with the symptoms.
I had quite a bad experience, the initial nurse that tried to catherterise me out it up my bum and blamed my weight, I had call bell taken off me, all sorts of things and because of my mental health was treated substandard even though I’m “one of them” (A&E worker)

With barn door symptoms of a serious and emergency surgical condition...

OP, I have no opinion on you suing but this is classic in the way women are treated, anything and everything is mental health. Good luck in your recovery.

Complaining would be appropriate. It sounds like you were treated really poorly.

I’m sure I remember you from my old profile, nice to see you’re still about.
ironically doing my dissertation about how women have been treated by healthcare staff /government over the years. It’ll certainly shape the way I am with patients from now on, but I’d like to think I’m not like that and a bit of a softie tbh! Male drs often roll their eyes at me.

Honestly it was a shocking experience that I’m really embaresssd about. The relief of being believed after 9 days of being told I was constipated… when they finally cathertherised me over 2L came out.

Apologies if I’m repeating myself I took a break after posting about this due to some comments and my sensitivity. I’ve not read over it.

Dreadful treatment op, especially the gaslighting with the old mental health/functional disorder crap. There can be a link with hyperparathyroidism and cauda equina, important your consultant is aware of this development and the parathyroid situation is brought under control quickly. I would definitely be complaining and probably would sue www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6413995/

The nhs have a budget for lawsuits every year so I would absolutely take action. If it was a private company you wouldn't think twice. "Protecting our nhs" does not extend to allowing them to make such huge mistakes.