In August 2021, Yvonne Goulding, 77, attended the Bristol Veincentre to meet with Dr Robert Colliver, a Consultant Interventional Radiologist, complaining of symptoms such as leg heaviness, tiredness, and cramps.  

She was diagnosed with varicose veins and advised to undergo Endovenous Laser Ablation Therapy (ELVA) on both legs – a minimally invasive procedure designed to close affected veins using laser energy. 

Mrs Goulding, a mother of two from Western Super Mare, paid £2,000 for the procedure and was discharged from the clinic later that day with compression stockings. However, upon returning home, her husband, Laurence, claims her pain escalated as the effects of the anaesthetic wore off.  

Concerned, Laurence, contacted the clinic, who advised him to take her to Weston Hospital. 

On arrival at the hospital Mrs Goulding’s condition deteriorated further and she collapsed while trying to move from a wheelchair to a bed according to Mr Goulding. She was admitted and received treatment for her right leg which was badly swollen and experiencing redness, rashes and sensitivity. She was also found to have a very large haematoma.   

She was subsequently referred to the Vascular Clinic at Southmead Hospital, where clinicians identified significant burns and skin damage to her right leg. She was subsequently transferred to the Burns Unit where she remained for 11 days whilst undergoing intensive treatment to treat her condition, including a skin graft. 

 

Mr and Mrs Goulding

 

The injuries left Mrs Goulding with permanent scarring, and they had a significant impact on her physical and emotional well-being according to her husband, who claims that it left her in a ‘great deal of pain that took a toll on her confidence and daily life’. He added that she had ‘never been quite the same afterwards’.  

Following her ordeal Mrs Goulding instructed Thompsons Solicitors through her husband’s union membership with Unite to investigate her care, concerned that her injuries could have been prevented.  

Led by clinical negligence lawyer Lisa Osborne, her legal team argued that the consultant at the Bristol Veincentre who carried out the procedure had failed to take appropriate measures to minimise the risk of thermal injury and to make her aware of the risks of the surgery given her age and medical history.  

Her legal team claimed that Mrs Goulding was unable to pass on vital information to the doctors in A&E who treated her when she was admitted to hospital, resulting in a delay in her diagnosis in relation to her burns, and delayed treatment. 

The case has now settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, without any admission of liability. Tragically, Mrs Goulding passed away before the settlement was finalised, but her husband, Mr Goulding, is now speaking out to raise awareness. 

He said: “What happened to Yvonne was awful. She suffered horrific burns and was in so much pain and discomfort, and it had a huge impact on her mental health too. She was never the same after the procedure, it’s like her confidence had been taken away from her.  

“I remember speaking to the head of the burns unit when she was in the hospital, and he said he had never seen anything like it and that something had clearly gone catastrophically wrong. The skin graft was particularly difficult for her to endure, but the bleeding wouldn’t stop, and she had to go ahead with it.” 

 

Commenting on the outcome of the legal case against the consultant who carried out the procedure, Mr Goulding added: “I am extremely relieved that the legal case has now concluded, although deeply saddened that Yvonne is no longer with me. However, whilst we did receive a payout we have had no apology, and absolutely no acknowledgment of what my wife went through. 

“I worry that lessons haven’t really been learnt, and that there may be others affected as Yvonne was, either in Bristol or elsewhere. I hope that by speaking out anyone undergoing something similar will be aware of the risks.” 

Lisa Osborne commented: "This case highlights the importance of ensuring patients are fully informed of the risks of any procedure and that the highest level of care is taken to prevent harm. While no amount of compensation can undo the suffering caused, it recognises the impact on Yvonne’s life."