The widow of a “truly remarkable man” has been awarded a six-figure settlement after doctors failed to cure her husband’s “reversible and treatable condition”.
Peter Wells visited the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow in December 2005 after complaining of a persistent cough. He later died from respiratory failure which could have been prevented if doctors had inserted a tube to aid his breathing.
Crystal Wells, who celebrated the birth of the couple’s first child just months earlier, approached her solicitors after a catalogue of errors led to her husband’s death.
A month before the Princess Alexandra visit, the wheelchair bound solicitor, who already suffered from inherent disorders, was given the all clear by a local GP who failed to spot any problems with his respiratory system.
Mrs Well’s barrister told the High Court that her husband “did not get the treatment he was entitled to expect. It is a matter of profound regret”.
The Princess Alexandra NHS Trust admitted full liability for Mr Wells’ death and offered its sincerest apologies to his family.
The negligence settlement was not disclosed in court but is just one of a number of claims launched against the NHS every year.
Recent Department of Health figures indicate that one in ten patients admitted to the NHS is “unintentionally harmed” and negligence claims are becoming common place in the nation’s courts.
Louise Griffiths, partner and head of Clinical Negligence at Stephensons Solicitors LLP, said: “Unfortunately, this type of tragic case is not uncommon. We represent hundreds of people every year who have suffered at the hands of medical professionals.
“Patients put their trust and quite often their lives in the hands of medical professionals and it is only right that they should expect the highest standard of care in return.”
Stephensons’ Clinical Negligence team is one of the leading teams in the region, and can provide a range of funding methods for clients wishing to pursue a claim against a medical practitioner, including Legal Aid and Conditional Fee Arrangements.
