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

That is a bit of an oversimplification. Op may have a longer recovery, not fully recover or future complications as a result of the delay. A complaint is appropriate , making a claim possibly but she has three years to assess that route. As part of the complaint you may be offered an opportunity to discuss concerns with a Clinician. Neither needs to involve a solicitor yet.

I understand your anger - it is particularly upsetting to be told that it is in your mind, especially in the face of an existing scan showing pathology. So your feelings of anger are very much understandable.

What would you be wanting to gain from a legal action? - money, the reassurace that people have learned from it and others are less likely to go through similar?

Talk to PALS at the hospital once you are clear what your aim is and see what they can do. I had a misdiagnosis and simply wanted to make sure that it did not happen to anyone else, but unfortunately PALS said that the only process possible was a complaint. In the end I reluctantly did this and the result was a whitewash. So be prepared for frustration.

If you are not wanting financial compensation, you could simply write to the team/consultant involved in the misdiagnosis and express your concerns. If you copy it in to PALS and the CEO of the trust they will not be able to ignore it and some good may come of it.

I do not know whether you have an existing mental health problem under treatment that led their thinking down the wrong path; but if so I have lots of sympathy. I am on an antidepressant and have found that medics are very quick to assume that the problem lies there even in the face of clear evidence of a physical problem.

I hope that you are making a good recovery.

OP, I definitely think you have grounds for complaint and potentially compensation. My mum complained about an operation that was botched a few years ago and was going to sue, the NHS settled out of court, but under a NDA so I don’t know what she received. The NHS isn’t infallible and this is a familiar story, they dismiss people due to weight and mental health a lot. I work in mental health and see this frighteningly often. They need to understand this is not the way to cut costs, as it ends up costing more in the end when more serious problems develop or people end up complaining about negligence.

Just because we have a health service that’s free at the point of use doesn’t mean they don’t ever deserve to be held to account when they get things wrong.

I wonder those who aren’t being particularly nice. Have you had a catheter out up your bum and told to stop crying and it’s your fault anyway for being overweight?

Can’t believe you work in the NHS and would try to sue over this.
As you work there you know that doctors and nurses and medics don’t have mystical powers that allow them to see exactly what’s going on with every patient every time.

Sounds as if you got the correct treatment. Good luck suing. I doubt even those ‘it’s free becuase we take 50% of your payout ‘ vulture lawyers would see there’s a case here.

They don't need mystic powers
Patient can't walk, bowel/bladder issues and a scan shows a disc issue
That's a banner of red flags waving for CES and it is so often not picked up

I was lucky and drove myself to a&e, didn't have any bladder or bowel issues but I told them I had CES and they listened
Even with emergency surgery I've lost feeling in part of my leg and foot, take codeine daily and can't do a lot of things in case I cause more damage

@HarriwithanI - I’m so sorry for your awful experience. And for some of the shitty comments on here. Try to ignore them.
You are perfectly entitled to complain to PALS (or indeed sue if that’s the route you want to take).
And you are also entitled to see your own notes. As a PP has said, you need to submit a formal DSAR.

I totally understand where you’re coming from - having been through a similar experience. Of wanting to ensure other patients don’t have to go through the same thing, and trying to get the hospital to apologise for fuck ups, and review / revise processes. Good luck op.

So put in a complaint. You’ve been told numerous times to complain. But what will suing achieve?? Admit it; you just want a pay out. You’ve admitted you’re skint. It’s shocking what you’re considering doing.

I didn't think you could sue if you weren't left with injuries from delay in diagnosis or botched treatment. Isn't compensation to pay for care that you'll need from being injured?

10 days in bed...

No wonder there's no beds.

You can do a PALS complaint but I think suing only works if you suffer long term injury that could have been prevented? If yours was treated quickly enough to prevent paralysis then I don't think you'll have a case

How will it help you to have an apology, OP?

I'm not saying you aren't owed one.
Why do you need it?

We all know NHS is struggling especially now. Even at its best (did such a time ever exist), it let some people down. If you know what benefit you will gain from the apology, then fair enough to complain to get it.

Everyone just wants to ignore the comment where I put complain not sue.
I may be skint but that in no way means I want a payout.
I have nightmares about everything.

I didn’t ask to be paralysed in bed 10 days unable to move taking up a bed - what a ridiculous comment.

I feel sad I’ve been turned on like this for something I wrote as I’ve said many times whilst I was upset mentally unwell and post op.

Do you all think I don’t know the NHS is struggling?!

So why did you mention using a food bank for Christmas food when I asked why you wanted to sue? And mention needing taxis for appointments?

Why do you keep nitpicking and not actually reading comments where I’ve stated many times I was wrong? It’s sad you find joy picking at others.

I reply to your most recent comment. As you are doing with others. Can you explain why you said you don’t want a pay out but also stated you want money for taxis and mentioned you had to use a food bank over Christmas. How is that in anyway relevant unless you’re wanting money?

@GabriellaMontez 10 days in bed with undiagnosed cauda equina with classic symptoms? She’s lucky that she is not permantly paralysed. Why bother commenting on a thread that you have no understanding of?

@HarriwithanI you know it will take months to get a pay out? Can you ask for patient transport?

If you presented with the symptoms that you say you did it’s appalling that this was not a differential diagnosis even as a junior nurse in a&e I knew that they were red flags for a cauda equina

Sue. Sue. Sue.

Their negligence will impact you massively until the day you die.

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough.

I'm disgusted that she was left like this for 10 days. She should have been treated and back home in the time it took to get a diagnosis.

How often is this scenario playing out across the country? While elsewhere people wait for a bed.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

OP. Many people are being absolutely, gratuitously, horrible to you on here. Ignore the mean comments, if you can.

I am very glad that you are recovering. You should complain (not sue, as you have already explained) about your treatment. Sadly women (particularly if with a history of mental health problems) are often not listened to properly by health professionals. You have every right to feel outraged by your treatment. Posters saying “well you are better now” are totally, insultingly, ignorantly missing the point.

I wish you well.