The Plaintiff, a 34 year old woman, complained of care she received at the Royal Maternity Hospital in and around 11 and 12 June 2005. The patient gave birth to twins by ceasarean section at approximately 11.30am on that date. Thereafter the patient was returned to the ward for recovery. Her blood pressure remained persistently low and failed to respond to resuscitive measures. Ward staff sought the assistance of a more senior colleague who did not attend but advised simply that the patient should await blood results. Ward staff however contacted another more senior colleague who attended at approximately 0355 hours in the early morning of 12 June 2005. The patient was brought to theatre where an emergency laparotomy was performed and a blood clot was removed from the uterine cavities.
The Plaintiff approached Patrick Mullarkey of Campbell Fitzpatrick Solicitors to act on her behalf in association with this matter on 28 August 2005. Independent medical evidence was obtained from an expert in obstetrics and gynaecology based in England. The Independent expert confirmed that the care received by the Plaintiff fell below a standard that she was entitled to expect. Specifically it was contended on behalf of the patient that the Belfast Health & Social Services Trust were negligent in failing to recognise and deal with, in a timely fashion, the patients symptoms. It was the Plaintiff’s case that she should have been treated more quickly and that the emergency laparotomy should have been performed at an earlier time.
As a consequence of the alleged negligence in this case, the Plaintiff suffered significant distress and upset which was diagnosed as an adjustment disorder. The patient required treatment through counselling since June 2006. She suffered sleep disturbance, she ruminated upon the experience and she experienced difficulties discussing the incident. She was left with a sense of anger as to how she had been treated. She lost trust in medical staff. The Plaintiff’s maternity leave was extended by a period of 3 months due to the psychiatric upset she experienced.
Proceedings were issued on behalf of the Plaintiff on 27 March 2008. The case was set down for Hearing on 13 October 2008 and was listed for Hearing commencing on 2 March 2009. Ultimately, in advance of the Hearing of the case, the Parties discussed this matter with a view to settlement. Settlement was agreed in the sum of £17,500 plus full costs on the eve of Hearing.