A person has received an NHS payout after being left with extreme burns on his buttocks and thighs from a freak accident involving a banned heated mattress.
Paul Hickman, 44, of Walsall within the West Midlands, was injured whereas having surgical procedure to enhance circulation in his legs in March 2021.
Before the botched process, docs on the Russells Hall Hospital utilized an alcohol-based antiseptic on Mr Hickman’s thighs and buttocks. They then positioned him on a heated mattress.
Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, carried out an inside investigation and located: ‘The uncommon mixture created the best circumstances to create a big burn.’
Mr Hickman took authorized motion towards the Trust and has now obtained an apology and an undisclosed payout.
Paul Hickman, 44, of Walsall within the West Midlands, was injured whereas having surgical procedure to enhance circulation in his legs in March 2021
Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, carried out an inside investigation and located: ‘The uncommon mixture(of alcohol and the heated mattress) created the best circumstances to create a big burn.’
He underwent an unspecified vascular process on March 29, 2021.
After the operation, he complained of extreme ache and it emerged that he had burns to his thigh and buttocks.
He remained in hospital till April 2, 2021 – resulting in the Trust declaring a serious incident.
Following an investigation, the Trust admitted {that a} breach of responsibility led to Mr Hickman’s ‘extended keep in hospital’.
The investigation discovered using alcohol-based resolution throughout Mr Hickman’s preparation for surgical procedure and the ‘inappropriate use’ of a heated mattress in surgical procedure led to his burns.
The probe additionally uncovered an identical incident had beforehand occurred on the Trust.
The use of the heated mattress had been banned in the kind of process Mr Hickman underwent since 2016, when a distinct affected person was burnt. There had been no additional particulars given about this case.
The payout awarded to Mr Hickman was mentioned to be for him ‘to entry the continued assist he wants following his accidents’.
Mr Hickman mentioned: ‘The ache from the burns and scars I had all down the again of the tops of my legs was insufferable. I used to be in a lot ache and painkillers did not actually take the sting off.’
Alexandra Roberts, the medical negligence specialist at Irwin Mitchell representing Mr Hickman, mentioned: ‘This is a particularly worrying incident by which Paul obtained extreme however avoidable burns.
‘What’s much more regarding is that Paul’s accidents got here after one other affected person was injured in an identical incident and the Trust had taken measures to apparently keep away from a repeat of such an incident.
‘What occurred to Paul and the way it has impacted on his life has been extremely robust for him each bodily and emotionally.’
She added: ‘While nothing will make up what he is been by, we’re happy to have offered him with the solutions he deserves.
‘We now name on the Trust to make sure it learns all classes potential from Paul’s case in order that its steering round using heated mattresses is upheld always.’
Mr Hickman mentioned he has scarring for all times on account of the incident.
The investigation discovered using alcohol-based resolution throughout Mr Hickman’s preparation for surgical procedure and the ‘inappropriate use’ of a heated mattress in surgical procedure led to his burns
He claims he now sits in a different way and has to lean to the facet now due to the scars, which really feel dry and scaly and require him to use cream day by day.
‘What makes what occurred to me much more surprising is listening to concerning the earlier incident,’ he added
‘I hope by talking out I can assist forestall one more comparable incident occurring. This has occurred twice and I do not need it to occur once more.’
Diane Wake, chief government of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, informed MailOnline final yr: ‘We provide our honest and wholehearted apologies to Mr Hickman who sadly sustained his burns throughout life-saving surgical procedure.
‘We have carried out a complete overview into the incident and this specific kind of heated mattress, whereas acceptable in most surgical procedures, is now not used for the kind of vascular process undertaken on Mr Hickman.’
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