Woman wins £425k payout after heart op went wrong

A woman who was left with serious disabilities after a heart operation failed to go to plan has been awarded compensation of £425,000.

Helen Fairhurst was born with a congenital heart defect that began to cause her problems in 2002, the Norfolk Eastern Daily Press reports.

She was subsequently booked in for an operation at a specialist hospital in February of that year to replace a valve in her heart.

Shortly after the procedure, Ms Fairhurst suffered a major haemorrhage and was left with severe cognitive impairment and paralysis in all four limbs, making her entirely dependent on others.

Through her mother, she sued the University College London Hospitals NHS Trust - which runs a total of seven hospitals.

A settlement was reached without the trust admitting liability and the money is to compensate Ms Fairhurst for her pain and suffering, as well as her loss of earnings.

23/07/2008 16:16