Negligent hip surgery, damages agreed at £80,500

We acted for the family of an elderly man who complained of hip pain. At Barnsley Hospital, the orthopaedic surgeon had recommended by letter that fluid should be taken by syringe from his hip in order to test for infection. Unfortunately, he advised our client instead to have a hip replacement without the test.

There was no logical reason not to have a test for infection and had it  been done it would have shown no infection and therefore there would have been no operation. Our client died as a result of having the hip replacement.

Barnsley hospital admitted negligence. He would have lived about another five years.

The claim was made on behalf of his wife, who relied upon her husband to care for her. Damages were agreed at £80,500.