A mother was left frightened after a routine vaccination resulted in severe shoulder damage, likened by doctors to injuries from a car accident. Natalie Witherington, 42, went for a pneumonia shot at Lawrence House Surgery in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, on September 22 when the incident occurred.
She claims the injection was mistakenly given in the wrong area of her left shoulder, leading to excruciating pain and significant damage. Natalie was swiftly taken to Scarborough General Hospital, where emergency surgery was performed to address the issue, and she was diagnosed with hemarthrosis, likely caused by the injection.
Natalie now worries that her arm may never fully recover. Despite undergoing three months of physiotherapy, she continues to experience constant pain and limited arm movement. The incident left her apprehensive about future injections.
The medical mishap resulted in an 11-day hospital stay for Natalie. Hudgell Solicitors, representing her, negotiated a £35,000 settlement with Haxby Group, the healthcare provider overseeing Lawrence House Surgery, despite their denial of liability. An expert in nursing confirmed a breach of duty in administering the injection incorrectly.
Expressing her frustration, Natalie, who deals with various health conditions including Crohn’s disease, highlighted the lack of acknowledgment of fault by the medical staff, prompting her to seek legal assistance. Despite her initial doubts, she was surprised by the settlement amount but remains dissatisfied with the absence of a clear admission of error.
Haxby Group Scarborough declined to comment on specific cases but emphasized their commitment to providing quality care to their patients.