Hatch Brenner Solicitors recovers damages for glaucoma patient

Glaucoma is a condition of increased pressure within the eyeball, causing gradual loss of sight

Hatch Brenner Solicitors’ Partner and Clinical Negligence specialist, Sara Westwood, has recovered damages for a client following a string of cancelled appointments that led to significant deterioration when referred for suspected glaucoma.

Our client was referred to the Eye Clinic at his local hospital in December 2015 for suspected glaucoma given his pressure readings were higher than normal. He did not require treatment but was kept under review for a period of time.

He was re referred by his GP in June 2018. Following a number of cancelled and rearranged appointments, mainly on the part of the hospital, the claimant was not in fact seen until the 3 January 2019. On this date he was prescribed eye drops as his eye pressure had deteriorated.

The plan was for the hospital to review his condition after two months of treatment. Our client had to chase the hospital as they did not send him an appointment date, which was expected for March 2019. Eventually an appointment was made for the 5 June 2019 which our client had to re arrange to the 3 July for work reasons. This appointment was then cancelled by the hospital, and another made for the 20 July. This was then moved to 6 August as the 20 July appointment had been made with a consultant when it should have been made with a nurse.

When eventually seen in August, some five months later than planned, it was found his right eye had deteriorated significantly and he had suffered irreversible damage to the optic nerve.

Sara Westwood was instructed in September 2019 to pursue a claim. The hospital’s claims handlers admitted liability and his claim was settled in the amount of £35,000.00.

If you have experienced a similar situation and think you have a claim, please contact Sara Westwood today on 01603 214 220 or email [email protected].