An investigation is under way after a 93-year-old woman broke her hips after she was dropped off by an ambulance crew at the wrong house.
The woman was taken to an empty house in Dinas Powys, south Wales, after visiting a day centre.
By the time the crew returned, the pensioner was found lying in the garden with broken hips.
The woman, who is normally cared for by her daughter at their home in Penarth, is in hospital.
A statement released by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and Cardiff and the Vale NHS Trust said they regretted the incident and apologised for any distress caused.
"A formal investigation has already been launched and will be finalised shortly," it said.
"Both organisations are reviewing the procedures for the discharge of older patients requiring ambulance transport in the light of this incident."
The family of the woman has asked to remain anonymous, but her daughter told BBC Radio Wales's Good Morning Wales programme that her mother must have been "nearly frantic".
She said: "For some inexplicable reason, they left her in the wrong house, completely alone. She must have been nearly frantic.
"When they came to me and I realised she wasn't on the ambulance, they realised what had happened and said they would go back for her. But it turns out they delivered all the remaining patients to their homes before going back to Dinas Powys, which was about an hour-and-a-half later."
Regularly updated blog featuring news, articles and information relating to clinical/medical negligence.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Monday, 14 January 2013
Wrexham family to receive payout after meningitis error by hospital
It has taken six years, but the family of Kate Pierce, from Wrexham, are a step closer to receiving compensation for the misdiagnosis which left her severely brain damaged.
The parents of a six-year-old girl from Wrexham who was left severely brain damaged due to medical negligence have won their claim against a health board.
Kate Pierce was nine months old when she developed pneumococcal meningitis, but was wrongly diagnosed.
Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board (BCUHB) has now accepted 75% responsibility for the claim, approved by a judge at Mold County Court.
The family's solicitor believes the compensation will be "seven figures".
Kate was nine months old in 2006 when she developed a life-threatening infection which was wrongly diagnosed as viral tonsillitis when she was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
A junior doctor told the family she was well enough to go home.
When her parents asked for a second opinion the junior doctor claimed he had sought the advice of a more senior doctor, when he had not.
They took Kate home, but when her condition deteriorated she went back to hospital and was correctly diagnosed with meningitis.
She was transferred to Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool, but had suffered severe brain damage, and now needs 24-hour care.
She is registered deaf and blind, has chronic lung disease and severe epilepsy, among other conditions.
Parents Mark and Diane Pierce heard a judge at Mold County Court accept a compromise agreement reached between their legal team and BCUHB.
A hearing to decide the damages is yet to be held, but their solicitor said after the hearing it would be in "seven figures".
Legal costs are estimated at £300,000.
After the hearing Mr Pierce, who serves with North Wales Police, said: "Hopefully this case is a step forward although it will be months before we know the final settlement.
"Kate's life expectancy has been severely reduced and we have had to spend six years of that precious time with her battling with the [health] board."
However, he added: "We have to be positive as a family.
"We still go out and do loads of stuff together and we have loads of friends.
"Basically, you have two choices, either get on with your life or let it get the better of you."
BCUHB said aspects of the care provided by the hospital were not of an acceptable standard and lessons have been learned.
It said it had apologised to the family, but Mark Pierce said that was not the case, adding that he wants to know what lessons have been learned.
This article is courtesy of BBC News.
The parents of a six-year-old girl from Wrexham who was left severely brain damaged due to medical negligence have won their claim against a health board.
Kate Pierce was nine months old when she developed pneumococcal meningitis, but was wrongly diagnosed.
Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board (BCUHB) has now accepted 75% responsibility for the claim, approved by a judge at Mold County Court.
The family's solicitor believes the compensation will be "seven figures".
Kate was nine months old in 2006 when she developed a life-threatening infection which was wrongly diagnosed as viral tonsillitis when she was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
A junior doctor told the family she was well enough to go home.
When her parents asked for a second opinion the junior doctor claimed he had sought the advice of a more senior doctor, when he had not.
They took Kate home, but when her condition deteriorated she went back to hospital and was correctly diagnosed with meningitis.
She was transferred to Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool, but had suffered severe brain damage, and now needs 24-hour care.
She is registered deaf and blind, has chronic lung disease and severe epilepsy, among other conditions.
Parents Mark and Diane Pierce heard a judge at Mold County Court accept a compromise agreement reached between their legal team and BCUHB.
A hearing to decide the damages is yet to be held, but their solicitor said after the hearing it would be in "seven figures".
Legal costs are estimated at £300,000.
After the hearing Mr Pierce, who serves with North Wales Police, said: "Hopefully this case is a step forward although it will be months before we know the final settlement.
"Kate's life expectancy has been severely reduced and we have had to spend six years of that precious time with her battling with the [health] board."
However, he added: "We have to be positive as a family.
"We still go out and do loads of stuff together and we have loads of friends.
"Basically, you have two choices, either get on with your life or let it get the better of you."
BCUHB said aspects of the care provided by the hospital were not of an acceptable standard and lessons have been learned.
It said it had apologised to the family, but Mark Pierce said that was not the case, adding that he wants to know what lessons have been learned.
This article is courtesy of BBC News.
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