Sevenfold Increase In Settlement Offer In GP Negligence Claim

Lyubov Nikolchova recently settled a client’s clinical negligence claim for more than seven times the original offer. Our client developed a serious injection-site infection which led to a painful abscess, surgical intervention, prolonged wound care, re-current abscess, and permanent scarring.

Background

Our client had received Depo-Provera injections for approximately 20 years without complication. In 2022, she attended her GP surgery for a routine repeat injection.

Shortly afterwards, she developed increasing pain, redness and swelling around the injection site. Despite attending her GP surgery twice, she was not examined properly and was told this was a normal reaction.

Her condition continued to deteriorate and within days, she was experiencing significant pain, difficulty sitting, difficulty driving and problems weight bearing through one side. She eventually attended hospital, where she was diagnosed with cellulitis before later being found to have a substantial abscess requiring incision and drainage procedure.

Following the procedure, our client underwent months of wound management and later developed a further abscess in the same area. The GP then didn’t follow the
hospital’s wound care instructions and failed to complete daily and thorough packing.

Shortly after, our client developed a second abscess in the same area, which was treated with antibiotics.

Although she eventually made good progress, she was left with ongoing discomfort and permanent scarring.

The Impact on Our Client

The consequences of the injury extended far beyond the physical symptoms. At the time of the incident, our client had recently invested in and launched a small catering business, with plans to build a successful new venture. However, the pain, treatment requirements, repeated medical appointments and prolonged recovery period limited her ability to work and develop the business as intended.

The claim involved complex issues relating to loss of earnings and future employability.

Liability

Our experts’ evidence supported the position that the injection had not been administered safely, resulting in the development of the abscesses. It was also argued that the post-operative wound management fell below an acceptable standard, contributing to delayed healing and ongoing complications.

Expert reports were obtained from specialists in nursing, general practice, general surgery, plastic surgery and psychology to fully investigate the circumstances of the case and the impact upon our client.

The Defendant provided partial admissions regarding breach of duty, allowing the parties to focus on resolving the claim without the need for formal court proceedings.

Settlement

Following negotiations, the Defendant made an offer, which our client was pleased to accept on our advice. The settlement provided our client with compensation for her pain, suffering, scarring, treatment and the broader impact the negligence had on her life. The final offer was seven times higher than the offer made with the Defendant’s initial offer.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates how routine medical treatment can have significant consequences when complications are not recognised and managed promptly. It also highlights the importance of obtaining specialist legal advice where concerns arise regarding medical treatment, diagnosis or aftercare.

Through detailed investigation, expert evidence and robust negotiation, Lyubov Nikolchova was able to secure a successful outcome for our client without the need for contested court proceedings.

Contact Dean Wilson LLP

If you or a loved one has suffered injury as a result of negligent medical treatment, our specialist Clinical Negligence Team may be able to help. We are experienced in investigating complex claims and supporting clients through every stage of the legal process.

To discuss your situation with a member of the team, please contact us on 01273 032328 or email enquiries@deanwilson.co.uk.