Man Wins Compensation for Botched Knee Operation
A man who was left with a broken leg after mistakes during a routine surgical procedure has won a five-figure sum in compensation.
Stewart Clegg, a taxi driver, had suffered from pain in his left knee for two years and underwent knee replacement surgery in August 2010 at Kendal NHS Treatment Centre, which was run by a private firm. Soon after the operation, however, he was walking on crutches at his home when his leg gave way and he fell to the ground in agony.
He was taken to Royal Lancaster Infirmary, where it was discovered that his left femur had been damaged as a result of mistakes made during the operation on his knee and had snapped when he tried to walk on it. The surgeons who had performed the original operation had also failed to check the post-operative X-rays. Had this been done, the damage to Mr Clegg’s femur would have been spotted.
Mr Clegg underwent a five-hour operation to repair the damage to his leg. As a result of his injuries, he was on crutches for an extended period and was unable to drive for 19 months. His wife took time off work to care for him while he recovered.
He brought a claim for compensation against NHS North Lancashire. He has now received an apology for the mistakes made during the operation and a five-figure sum in compensation. The settlement will compensate Mr Clegg for lost earnings during the time he was unable to work, as well as for his physical injuries.