§ PUBLISHED JUDGMENT · 2014

Reaney v University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust & Anor

[2014] EWHC 3016 (QB)·High Court (Queen's Bench Division)·31 October 2014

A woman who was already paralysed from a spinal condition developed severe pressure sores during a long hospital stay, and the Trust admitted that this was negligent. The judge decided how much the sores and their consequences had added to her care needs and assessed her damages.

Outcome

Claimant succeeded

Sum stated in judgment

Not stated

Claim type

Clinical Negligence

Decided

Damages assessed at trial

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§ WHAT HAPPENED

The facts, in brief.

Defendant: University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust and another

Injury: Grade 4 pressure sores developed in hospital, with bone infection, hip dislocation and severe leg contractures in a woman already paralysed below the chest

Specialty: Nursing care (pressure ulcer prevention) · England

§ WHAT THE COURT SAID

In the judgment’s own words.

“There will, accordingly, be judgment for the Claimant in the sum of £2,894,814.69, the final terms of the order to be agreed by Counsel.”

The money

The High Court entered judgment for £2,894,814.69, but that award did not stand: in [2015] EWCA Civ 1119 the Court of Appeal allowed the Trust's appeal and sent the assessment back to be redone on the basis that only the additional needs caused by the negligence are recoverable. The Court of Appeal did not substitute a figure, so no final award is published.

§ WHY IT MATTERS

What this case shows.

Where a patient already has serious health needs, the hospital is only responsible for the extra needs its negligence causes. The Court of Appeal later sent the damages back to be worked out again on that narrower basis.

About clinical negligence claims →

§ MORE CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE JUDGMENTS

Claimant succeeded£550,000

Alexander v HCA International Limited & Anor

[2026] EWHC 1284 (KB)·2026·Liability decided at trial

A patient developed life-threatening pancreatitis after a gallstone-removal ERCP. The judge found the consultant never prescribed or instructed the standard preventive diclofenac suppository, so it was not given, and entered judgment for £550,000 against him.

Failing to give a recognised prophylactic drug before a procedure can be negligent even in private care. The prescribing doctor, not the hospital, carried the liability here.

Claim failed

O'Brien v Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust

[2022] EWHC 2735 (KB)·2022·Liability decided at trial

A man with end-stage kidney failure was given a single 400mg gentamicin dose for a chest infection and suffered permanent balance and hearing damage. His sister's claim failed because the judge accepted that a high dose was a reasonable choice for a worsening infection with sepsis risk, despite his renal impairment.

A drug dose that causes known side-effects is not automatically negligent if it was a reasonable clinical judgement in the circumstances. Departing from a hospital guideline is not itself proof of negligence.

Claimant succeeded

Plan v El-Amir & Anor

[2020] EWHC 2902 (QB)·2020·Liability decided at trial

A 79-year-old with macular degeneration was persuaded to have an intraocular lens implant in her better eye without proper informed consent, then developed raised eye pressure that the surgeon left untreated for five weeks. Stacey J found the surgeon negligent both in consenting and in delaying laser treatment, causing total blindness in that eye.

Private eye surgeons must obtain genuinely informed consent and act promptly on post-operative complications. A delay that materially contributes to permanent damage is enough for liability even if some harm had already occurred.

All clinical negligence judgments →

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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