Victory puts an end to botched operation hell

BY LUI STRACCIA

A bungled foot operation victim still takes 23 tablets a day to cope with her pain – nearly five years after the botched surgery.

Former Luton & Dunstable Hospital patient Karen Saunders, 46, has spoken of her horror over the ordeal, which is finally coming to an end after she was given £282,500 in compensation earlier this month.

In 2005 Ms Saunders was told the simple procedure to repair her dislocated toe and remove a benign tumour from her left foot had not been correctly undertaken by a contracted French surgeon at the L&D.

In fact the toe was still dislocated, the tumour was still present and there were now five screws holding together her big toe – which had been broken and reset for no reason.

In September 2005 surgery to have her fourth toe was put right and the tumour removed was successful.

But Mrs Saunders still experiences pain on a daily basis and has lost her HGV licence (along with her job) as she can no longer pass the medical.

Furthermore, battling the NHS for more than four years to get compensation almost cost her her home, in Harlington, as well as causing her to be depressed – even suicidal at times. Bringing in overseas surgeons was part of the L&D’s bid to meet Government targets for reduced waiting times by outsourcing some surgery to the private sector.

Unemployed Mrs Saunders said: “I have to take 23 tablets a day. It’s crazy. I’ve been to hell and back and it’s been soul destroying.

“With this court thing settled, I can now pay off my debts and my mortgage. I just wanted someone to put my foot right.

“I nearly lost my house in June. I was literally trying to survive on incapacity benefit.

“In the end I became so ill in myself I decided to settle. I’m still angry with the L&D for what it has put me through.

“I suffer pain in my left foot 24/7. No surgeon can do anything with it now. I don’t feel I’ll ever go to the L&D again.

“My life has been changed. I’ve got to get used to it. I walk with a limp.”

Carolyn Lowe, who handled Ms Saunders’ case, said: “This case shows the dangers of the NHS using doctors who are brought in from abroad at weekends to try to alleviate waiting lists, but where the outcome can be disastrous for the patient.

“Ms Saunders had a completely different operation carried out on her foot to the one her NHS consultant advised that she should have, and this has left her with permanent injuries.”

When asked what had caused the operation to be bungled, an L&D spokeswoman said: “We’re not able to provide details of patients’ treatment. The matter was investigated which is why we are able to say we were liable.” She added French surgeons were no longer employed at the hospital.