A woman whose quality of life has been significantly affected following a five-year delay in diagnosing a benign brain tumour has achieved a compensation settlement.
The woman went to see her GP in 2013, suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus. Her GP referred her to hospital but, despite repeated referrals, she was not accepted as an ear, nose and throat (ENT) patient.
Her symptoms worsened and in 2018 she was referred for an MRI scan. The MRI scan showed that she had a large acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumour that grows on the nerve used for hearing and balance. She required surgery and was left with loss of taste, nerve palsy, issues with balance and damage to her right eye.
After she sought legal advice, expert evidence was obtained indicating that the failure to admit her to the ENT department in 2013 had been a breach of duty. It was also established that, had the tumour been diagnosed at that time, the need for such extensive surgery would have been avoided.
A claim was brought against the NHS trust responsible for the hospital, which admitted liability. Following negotiations, a settlement of her claim was reached.