Campaigners of a woman who died soon after doctors failed to diagnose a haemorrhage in the brain have received anout-of-court pay out from the NHS.
Christine Smith, 67, from Braunton, Devon, died in July 2009 after trained medical staff failed to give her surgery that would have saved her life.
The NHS Trusts involved – The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust and Plymouth hospitals NHS Trust said it regretted opportunities were neglected and compensated Christine Smith’s family an undisclosed amount in compensation.
Mrs Smith had first gone to the North Devon District hospital, in Barnstaple, with persistent vertigo, headaches and numbness in the face. She was referred to another hospital in Plymouth where she was examined, but instead of being admitted for an operation a further appointment was booked for the end of July 2009.
She died three days before her appointment at Frenchay hospital in Bristol, from a brain haemorrhage after collapsing at home the previous day.
In a joint release Plymouth hospitals NHS and The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust said they were: “committed to the highest standards of healthcare” and all involved with Mrs Smith “profoundly regret that opportunities were missed”.
Medical director of the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust – Dr Alison Diamond, said: “I absolutely understand how devastating this must have been for the family and would like to apologise once more for the failure to diagnose in this very sad case.”