Six-Figure Compensation for Hospital Error

A man who suffered a serious spinal injury as a result of a mistaken hospital diagnosis in 2000 has won an undisclosed amount in compensation.

Liam Careless, now 23, was 12 years old when he was taken to Tameside Hospital complaining of paralysis in his neck. An X-ray was taken, but doctors failed to spot that he had suffered damage to his spine. He was discharged the next day with a soft neck collar to wear if he experienced any pain. He was not requested to attend a follow-up appointment.

Over the next four years, Mr Careless continued to suffer numbness and shooting pains in his neck. Eventually, in 2004, it was discovered that the X-ray had been misread. Further tests revealed spinal cord compression. Had the damage been spotted in 2000, it could have been treated with spinal surgery.

The incorrect diagnosis has left Mr Careless in constant pain and he finds it difficult to walk. He frequently has problems with his balance, which means that he is prone to falls.

Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust agreed to a compensation settlement, believed to be a six-figure sum, which should help with Mr Careless’s future needs and provide him with a degree of financial security.