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

Ignore the posters on the thread, who clearly know nothing about the clinical or legal position. OP, my DP is a lawyer in clinical negligence and cauda equina delay in diagnosis is a common lawsuit and definitely something that often results in clinical negligence claims, but is complicated by specific details around NICE MRI scanning guidance and is quite complex.

You would also need to suffer a clear detriment in order to make a claim, ie. a poorer outcome compared to if you had been treated earlier. You won’t know this for some time until you are more advanced in your recovery. Only a specialist lawyer will know if you have a case and whether it has a likelihood of succeeding based on the specific details of your case. Good luck with your recovery - it’s a shocking thing to go through and I hope you recover as smoothly as possible!

How will it help you to have an apology, OP?
Is there an emotional benefit if you get that apology?

What a weird question.

It's missed all the time. The spinal unit at Stoke Mandeville is full of people who have been missed, it's VERY sobering seeing people with life changing injuries who could've have had different outcomes if they'd been proper treated in a timely manner. They also tell you which law companies to use to sue the NHS. Write a complaint by all means but personally I'd be thankful you don't have to actually sue as it takes years.

I don't get why some posters are being so horrible. Actual doctors on this thread have said you had multiple, classic red flag symptoms for cauda equina and should have been treated much sooner.

I would absolutely put in a complaint when you feel well enough to do so, hopefully a review of your case will help ensure this doesn't happen to someone else.

Unfortunately as others have said, I think it's probably too soon to be certain there are no lasting complications, and if you do have any long term issues I wouldn't blame you at all for suing.

I hope your recovery goes well .

I'm a dentist and even I know this!! I'm shocked at posters tbh OP. 10 days in bed without being diagnosed is horrendous in itself, it's not like a mystery disease on an episode of House. FML.

I’m actually in hospital now with suspected ECS for a second time. Been sat in a waiting room since 10am. Not passed urine nearly 23 hours.But no I’m in the wrong here for wanting to complain not sue. (We should be kept flat no movement)

Admittedly fragile with my MH so these lovely comments have helped balance the not so nice ones. Thank you.

Mrs Morton you were always there for me under my old username “ICantThinkOfAUsernameH” many years ago. It’s nice to see you here and still as kind as always. Thank you x

Gosh OP you're having a dreadful time of it. I cannot believe some of the responses on here. Wonder if they'd be so in love with the good old struggling NHS if their child lay ten days in a bed unable to walk or pee with no action.

It's going to be important in the future that your hospital notes are accurate so if you get a chance, check and double check what you're being told is accurately reflected in the bedside notes, if at all possible. I had horrific issues after an operation years ago, I mean trauma of the worst kind. The actual hospital notes minimised it to one line which in no way was even scratching the surface of what happened. Take your own notes too if you are able. I wish you all the best.

People need to be aware too that it doesn't always present as saddle numbness and inability to go to the toilet,that's why MRIs are so important OP I hope you get sorted asap and get some answers.

@lljkk I agree with a PP. This is a bloody odd, and quite frankly insensitive, question.
Maybe you’ve never been through anything that has required a formal apology from an institution such as the NHS, where they’ve fucked up. It’s actually an important part of the healing process.

it's great if OP knows this would be part of her healing process.
Or that the apology would bring her other benefits.

She never said it was an important part of her healing process before I asked.
I do not assume things about other people like the reasons why they do things.
I do not assume things about other people.

I don't agree that it's a bad thing about me that I do not assume things about other people.

Write everything down, request your records, go through pals and challenge whether there are proper protocols in place, if so, were they followed, if not then why not. It would give a better result in terms of future service and treatment. It would maybe give you a sense of real resolution if changes are made because you've taken action. Try to give yourself time to recover. I'm nhs also, protocol wasn't followed in my mother's nor my case. Horrible mistakes were made throughout. My mother died, I was left with post op issues. I hope because I raised concerns others were helped.
As my head of dept has often said, half of the job is listening because that's how you learn. Just because you suspect a cause doesn't mean you don't rule others out (it's the reason I take so many bloods) . I hope your recovery goes well.

As pp have said, write everything down- dates, meds given etc. Really important, you will forget really quickly and you might need details in the future.

A lot of posters don't seem to understand that keeping quiet protect no one. Not the NHS, not the patients,not the staff. Because the next mistake could cost someone the use of their limbs, or their life and staff could lose their jobs and hospital sued.

Bringing this shit out in the open(and it was absolute shit what happened to op, from the way they treated her and talked to her to the actual medical care until she was properly diagnosed) is the only way to keep everyone safe.

Quite!

Thank you all, tbh it’s all just been a massive shock and I just don’t want anyone to go through what I did.
still sat in agony waiting for ortho, 24+ since urine/bowels. I’m tempted to go and wait at home until my spinal team are back in Monday am as they get things done -my birthday too-

No,stay put,you must get seen. Are you saying you haven't peed for 24 hours and they know this?

Sorry if I’ve not been clear I just want closure from it and lessons to be learnt,

1. catheters should never be inserted in an anus
2. I shouldn’t have been in bed 10 days no treatment being told it was in my head and I needed a poo when I was paralysed
3. took me ringing my spinal team 2.5 hours away to get an mri then I was blue lighted and straight to theatre being told there actually something physical

Yes they’re aware, no bladder scan or bloods taken

It’s Deja vu I can’t do this. Offered paracetamol. I’ve written another post of everything I’m on

Don't go home, you must stay there and get treated and hope it's sooner rather than later.

Do you have someone who can advocate for you? NHS screw ups are hard to navigate when it's you rather than a friend or loved one. Can't bear any "Our NHS" nonsense. It's what makes the betrayal so hard to bear.

@HarriwithanI
Sending you a handhold, is there anyone you can phone at the other hospital, I can't believe they are fucking this up again (actually, I can believe it). Absolutely take the appropriate legal advice when you are able. No good comes from brushing these things under the carpet.

I'm also embarrassed to be part of the human race when fellow humans are spouting such utter bile and nastiness upthread. I really don't know how some people sleep at night, are you this nasty in real life?

Op, I have been where you are, I'm 3 years down the line. Cauda Equina sympthoms...head scratching, ah you are fine, lose weight, then panic - 8 spinal surgeries. I am now classed as disabled and can't go back to work. (As you can see from the 3am time the numbness interups my sleep too)

Unfortunately all the negative comments here are from people who haven't an idea of how something like this can destroy you physically and mentally. It effects everything in your life.
Before all this I probably would have read your post and been quite opinionated. kinda get over it and yeh poor you. But that phrase 'live a day in my shoes' made me see life differently now. I think differently, I respond to things differently, more patience. I have such a love and appreciation for those around me who helped an supported me. It showed me who were real friends! I have no energy now for negative or bullsh*. My life changed overnight and I HAD to change.
I know there are people even worse than me so it stops me feeling sorry for myself too. But we all deal wirh pain and trauma differently. What you are going through now is scary, painful and a sense of helplessness. It's horrible.
It is impossible for anybody here even myself to give you advice because every situation is different even if there's a similarity.
But know you aren't alone and here is my pennys worth. For now I think your best bet is to focus on yourself and your well-being to get better. Try to get back to normal as much as possible. Then when you are in a stronger and healthier place think about it all. Make a complaint. Will it change anything now? No. Will it make a difference to how you heal. NO. Could their response make you even more annoyed? Possibly.
With regards to going a legal route. Based on information you have mentioned I wouldn't. I tried and gave up. I had everyone saying 'oh you would certainly be compensated, they should have done xyz,look what happened to you'. It's extreamely exhausting and costly (even on a no win no fee). Medical cases are the hardest to prove. It's not cut and dry.
You are completely entitled to feel annoyed, anxious, depressed, disappointed, sorry for yourself, fed up and lots more emotions because you went through a trauma. Your trauma!
It will also weirdly make you stronger. I promise. 😉
Wishing you a speedy recovery.