Hysterectomy Patient Develops Necrotising Fasciitis

After having a hysterectomy, Paula developed a serious post-operative infection called necrotising fasciitis. Her symptoms were repeatedly ignored by nurses and by the time the infection was diagnosed she was critically ill.
When Paula was diagnosed with cancer of the vulva, she was told she needed a total hysterectomy by way of treatment. The procedure was carried out, after which she was admitted to the intensive care unit.

After spending two days in ICU, Paula was sent to a general ward. When she arrived she began to leak fluid from her groin, so much so that her bed sheets were saturated. Her family asked the nurses to change the sheets but their request was refused. Eventually, Paula’s niece changed the bed sheets herself.

Paula was also feverish, nauseous, suffering excruciating pain in her groin and emitting a foul odour. She also had a catheter in situ which was not changed for over two days. Again, Paula’s family asked the nurses for help, but again they said they were too busy. She was given no treatment whatsoever, despite demonstrating the typical signs of post-operative infection.

Three days later Paula was transferred to a specialist gynaecological unit. There she was examined immediately and diagnosed with a severe infection called necrotising fasciitis. The consultant said the nurses should have known that Paula was at risk of developing an infection because she had undergone abdominal surgery and was overweight. He also said that the lack of treatment and unsanitary conditions on the ward had triggered the infection.

After being diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, Paula underwent three emergency operations to remove all the infected tissue from her groin, pelvis and abdomen. She was critically ill during this time and her family was told she may not survive. Thankfully after three months in hospital Paula did recover. It was a slow and agonising process, especially as she had an extensive wound that required new dressings on a weekly basis.

Paula now has a terrible deformity on her stomach and pelvic area. She became incontinent of urine due to being catheterised for so long in hospital and consequently was forced to take voluntary redundancy.

All this has caused Paula to suffer terrible psychological injuries. She is in constant pain and will never be able to live her life as she once did. These awful complications could have been readily avoided, had the nurses in the ward taken any notice of Paula’s symptoms.

Glynns supported Paula in a claim against the hospital for their negligent care. She was awarded over £30,000 in compensation.

(Details which might identify our client have been changed.)

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