Our client was just 35, and guardian of his 17 year old nephew. He was admitted to hospital in September 2011 with a burst appendix. Delays in diagnosis meant that the surgery he required to save his life was also delayed. For four days he was left suffering in a hospital bed until the operation was finally performed, by which time he was unable to survive.

At an inquest evidence was given to show that our client received an “inadequate” clinical assessment and prescribed an “inappropriate” antibiotic, with nurses not communicating to senior medical staff their concerns of how serious his condition was. The inquest led to the beginning of the legal case by the family with Bridge McFarland LLP acting on their behalf.

Danielle Barney, Partner at Bridge McFarland LLP, said: “The NHS Foundation Trust admitted liability, but financial claims were limited because Mr Cuthbert was a single man. More importantly for the Cuthbert family however, was the explanation they received about the circumstances of Garfield’s death and the lessons learned as a result. I hope that they can move forward more positively with their lives.”

As a result, the family was awarded £37,500 in compensation, and the Trust were quick to apply changes to improve procedures, including extra staff training in identifying the seriousness of patient conditions and how to communicate this to senior medical staff.