Woman with undiagnosed spinal injury becomes paralysed after being discharged from A&E without treatment

On 29 July 2019, a 78-year-old woman, who we will refer to as Lily, suffered a severe spinal injury following a fall when she was home alone. Her son-in-law found her about 30 minutes after the fall.  

The following day, Lily complained of neck pain and nausea, and was taken by her daughter to Accident and Emergency (A&E) at Northwick Park Hospital by ambulance.  

When she was at hospital, Lily did not speak much, and the attending doctor mainly communicated with her daughter. The discharge summary noted restricted neck movement and a shuffling gait, but no scans of her cervical spine were carried out. Lily was discharged with advice to follow up with her GP.  

After being discharged from hospital, a nurse from Lily’s GP practice and the Short-Term Assessment, Rehabilitation and Reablement Service (STARRS) raised concerns that she needed to be hospitalised, however the STARRS team decided against admission.  

The following week on 5 August 2019, Lily travelled to Sri Lanka with her daughter. However, while abroad, her condition deteriorated significantly and on 11 August, she was admitted to hospital with complete upper limb weakness. A CT scan revealed a spinal fracture at the base of her neck, resulting in severe spinal cord damage. 

Lily’s spinal cord damage led to paraplegia, the inability to move the lower parts of her body such as her legs.  

In 2021, Lily instructed medical negligence partner Nandi Jordan from law firm Leigh Day to investigate her case. Rajkiran Arhestey of 1 Crown Office Row was instructed as counsel. 

Nandi Jordan made a case that had a CT scan been performed on or shortly after Lily’s admission to A&E, it is likely the fracture would have been identified sooner, and she would have received treatment that could have prevented the progression of spinal cord damage and the resulting paraplegia.  

Lily died before her case was resolved, and the investigation was continued by her family. In January 2025, the case settled for £150,000 with an admission of liability from the London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.

Nandi Jordan said:  

“London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust admitted liability for the negligent role they played in Lily’s care. It was a privilege to represent Lily and her family to help them find answers and ensure that the negligence was admitted by the trust.”  

Lily’s daughter said: 

"I am pleased the case has settled and justice has been served, and I am now feeling relieved that there is a closure to my mum’s unfortunate incident. Thanks to Nandi Jordan and her team at Leigh Day."