§ PUBLISHED JUDGMENT · 2026
Dickinson v Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
[2026] EWHC 1574 (KB)·High Court (King's Bench Division)·29 June 2026
A 37-year-old alcohol-dependent man admitted for a facial abscess was not given the prophylactic vitamin B1 (Pabrinex) that guidelines required during withdrawal, which the Trust admitted was a breach. The judge found this caused Wernicke's encephalopathy and a lasting functional disorder, and set the main heads of damages including a 24-hour care regime.
Outcome
Claimant succeeded
Sum stated in judgment
Not stated
Claim type
Brain & Spinal Surgery Negligence
Decided
Liability and damages decided at trial
§ WHAT HAPPENED
The facts, in brief.
Defendant: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · this trust’s claims data
Injury: Wernicke's encephalopathy from thiamine deficiency, followed by a disabling functional neurological and cognitive disorder; profound physical disability, cannot walk, life expectancy reduced to 63.5
Specialty: Acute medicine / Alcohol withdrawal management · England
§ WHAT THE COURT SAID
In the judgment’s own words.
“but for the admitted breach of duty, the Claimant would not have developed the functional disorder”
The money
No total stated: the form of award (lump sum or periodical payments) was left for the parties to agree after judgment. Figures decided: PSLA £185,000 ([273]); past care £140,000 ([277]); future care multiplicand £104,936.83 for year 1 then £248,843.40 per annum ([286]). Claimant's pleaded lump-sum claim was £5,820,292.71 ([5]); defendant's counter-schedule £1,641,938.16 ([260]).
§ WHY IT MATTERS
What this case shows.
Breach was admitted, so the case turned on proving the brain injury was caused by the omission rather than by pre-existing conditions. It illustrates how catastrophic-injury awards are built from a care multiplicand, case management and accommodation rather than a single headline figure.
Contains information licensed under the Open Justice - Licence v2.0. Judgments from Find Case Law, The National Archives. Summaries are ours; amounts only where printed in the judgment.
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