Compensation for woman who lost her kidney following an injury to her ureter

A woman has secured compensation from an NHS Trust after being left in chronic pain and without one of her kidneys following surgery to remove a large kidney stone. 

SH underwent a procedure to remove a large stone in her right kidney, in May 2010.  She had originally been seen at the same hospital in 2006 and told that a procedure would take place at another hospital in 2007. However, that procedure was not organised and SH was referred back to the hospital in late 2009.

During the operation in May 2010, SH’s ureter was damaged and the procedure was abandoned.  

SH was not told about the complication and was sent home from hospital two days later.  

She suffered considerable pain and needed to be readmitted.  A CT scan confirmed that there was damage to SH’s right ureter, and only then was she told of the complication.

SH developed serious complications, resulting in a nephrectomy, or the surgical removal of a kidney, in November 2010.  

The urologist had originally planned to carry out reconstruction of her kidney but found that this was impossible and had to remove the kidney.  

SH continued to suffer from abdominal pain and subsequently developed a chronic pain disorder.

Before proceedings were issued the NHS Trust concerned admitted breach of duty, for its failure to adequately manage the ureteric injury in 2010, and to perform a timely scan, to arrange a further procedure, and to inform SH of the complication.

The Trust also admitted breach of duty in failing to ensure that the original plan of treatment in 2007 was carried out.  It was further admitted that the correct management would have avoided the claimant’s complications, and that she would have avoided losing a kidney and suffering chronic pain if the correct management had been carried out.  

SH was represented by medical negligence lawyer Mala Sidebottom who settled the case for £80,000 and legal costs.

Mala said:

“My client has been left with only one of her kidneys and in chronic pain.

“This could have been avoided if the Trust had managed the ureteric injury surgery correctly.”