Hi, my Mum made a complaint against our local trust: she was involved in a car accident on 1st August 2001.
After being cut out of the vehicle by the fire brigade was taken to out local hospital. She was sent home, off her face on morphine, in a right mess. We actually had to stop at Boots to speak with the pharmacist regarding some of the cuts she had that hadn't been looked at. She was asked to return to hospital at a later date to have her foot put into plaster. when the swelling reduced. She went home in a "back slab".
Mum continued to experience pain in her wrist and back and on seeing the GP was sent back to hospital, initially for an x-ray on her wrist - broken scaphoid - required plaster.
A few days later, still in agony, after going up and down the stairs on her bum - as advised, GP sent her to hospital for an x-ray on her spine. She wasn't allowed to get up for several weeks as she had broken her back! She is now registered disabled as the vertebrae at the base of her spine have fused together (rather than "moving" as they should). She is usually in pain.
Mum did complain and was eventually awarded some compensation - they gave her hardley anything as the hospital successfully argued that diagnosing Mum's injuries earlier would not have affected her recovery. I think it took about 3 years to receive this. Incidentally the same unit also sent home another guy we know on the same day with a BROKEN NECK!
Oh the joy of newly qualified doctors!!!
Hope that helps!