I owe you a great deal of thanks for helping me through the very difficult process, both throughout the period of the inquiry and then latterly, during the civil claim. Your patience and understanding as well as the lengthy explanations made it a lot easier than I would have thought possible.

Inappropriate medical advice given after swallowing needle

Emma swallowed a needle when her dog jumped on her lap whilst she was sewing. She felt the needle scratch her throat but when she went to the local accident and emergency department she was told by a nurse to eat plenty of bread, drink plenty of fluids and check her stools, waiting for the needle to pass through her body.

After five days of observation the needle was still inside Emma’s body and she had begun to suffer with severe abdominal pain. Upon visiting her GP she was referred to the hospital where an abdominal x-ray found the needle just outside the stomach.

Emma had to undergo surgery to remove the needle resulting in scarring, pain and loss of amenity which would have been avoided had Emma been dealt with appropriately when she visited the hospital having initially swallowed the needle.

A successful claim was brought against the local NHS Trust with the assistance of solicitor, Victoria Blankstone, and Emma received £6,000 in compensation.

Lawyer involved in this case

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