Monday 19 June 2023

A HOSPITAL Trust has agreed an £80,000 damages settlement with an 88-year-old Beverley man who lost almost all vision in his right eye after errors led to him missing 11 months of vital treatment to prevent glaucoma. The man, who has not been named by solicitors who brought the case against Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, was 83 when seen by eye specialists at Hull Royal Infirmary following a fall.

Hudgell Solicitors reported: “They said he would need to be reviewed again in four to six months, but that detail was not communicated to him, nor his GP, and no arrangements for the review were made when he was discharged to a care home for rehabilitation.” The statement continued: “It was almost a year later in January 2018 when the man, who by then had been discharged back to his own home for some time, went to see his optician with ‘fogged’ vision and was told he had advanced glaucoma in his right eye.”

His vision had deteriorated to a point where he could see “hand movements only”.  Hudgells said the Trust admitted its failure to arrange the follow-up examination within four to six months was a breach of its duty of care, leading to an £80,000 out-of-court settlement.

THREE BEVERLEY people have been honoured in The King’s first Birthday Honours List. Dr Martin Reynolds, volunteers co-ordinator for the MissionAssist Charity received an MBE for services to indigenous languages; while Dr Wendy Mitchell receives a British Empire Medal, for services to people living with dementia, as does Jane Tattam, founder and Chair of the Needed Urgent Remedial and Surgical Equipment Charity, for services to fundraising for the NHS and to the community in Beverley.