Hospital failed to diagnose a brain tumour
A man who has been left almost blind after a hospital failed to diagnose a brain tumour has received £180,000 in compensation.
A North West NHS Foundation Trust admitted liability after missing the benign tumour in a CT scan in December 2004 and informing the man his scan was completely clear.
Despite several follow up appointments during the following year it took a referral to the Ophthalmology Department from his optician four years later to secure a much-needed MRI scan which showed a large tumour. However, this scan was also initially given the all-clear.
A follow up MRI scan confirmed he had a large tumour in the membrane surrounding the brain above his pituitary gland; the mass was compressing his optic nerve, causing his eyesight to deteriorate.
Loss of sight in left eye
He underwent seven hours of brain surgery to remove the tumour but the sight in his left eye did not recover and he was left with no vision in that eye.
The 51-year-old from Warrington has also been left with reduced peripheral vision in his right eye and needs to take drugs to support the function of his pituitary gland. The condition means he cannot drive and needs support from an assistant in his job.
Following his diagnosis he contacted Thompsons Solicitors for advice. Thompsons argued that if he had been given an MRI scan in 2004 it would have revealed the tumour and his sight would have been saved.
The Hospital Trust admitted liability and settled the claim out of court.
His sight could have been saved
The man said: “I had trouble with my eyes for a number of years but trusted that the doctors knew what they were doing. When my sight started to get worse I went to my optician to see what they could do. I never imagined that I was suffering from a tumour because that had been ruled out all those years earlier.
“When I was told the results of the MRI scan I was devastated. The operation was successful in removing the tumour, but because there was such a long delay in receiving treatment I’ve now had to learn to cope with limited sight.”
Michael Burrell from Thompsons Solicitors added: “Our client was in a vulnerable position where he trusted the medical professionals’ judgement. Four precious years passed whilst his eyes deteriorated. During this time he could have received the much-needed care he needed and his sight could have been saved.
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