5-Figure Settlement for Iron Infusion Claim

Shivam Raja

Successful settlement for a pregnant woman injured by an unnecessary iron infusion

Osbornes Law have reached another successful outcome for a Claimant who suffered an iron extravasation injury during her pregnancy.

The background

The Claimant, Mrs A, had a routine blood test during her pregnancy which identified that she had low iron levels, and so she was prescribed oral iron tablets. Approximately 4 weeks later, Mrs A had another routine blood test, which noted that she was responding well to the iron tablets and her iron levels had improved.

Mrs A subsequently attended the Defendant NHS Trust for a routine ultrasound scan. Following the scan, she asked the consultant about her iron levels, who advised her that she would need to have a Ferinject intravenous iron infusion procedure as her iron levels were still low. The consultant did not advise her about how the procedure would work or if there was a risk of permanent staining.

Mrs A attended the Defendant NHS Trust the following day for the iron infusion procedure. When she arrived, the midwifery staff were unsure why she had been referred for an iron infusion, as they said her iron levels were fine. Mrs A was told that it was up to her whether she wanted to have the iron infusion. Mrs A was not given any explanation (either orally or in writing) about the iron infusion procedure, or whether there were any side effects/allergic reactions. She was just told that there were no risks with having the procedure, so she decided to go ahead.

A midwife then attended and attempted to set up the cannula in Mrs A’s right outer hand. The midwife had trouble cannulating Mrs A – when the midwife tried to flush the cannula, liquid sprayed everywhere. The midwife also struggled setting up the machine for the drip and had to be assisted by another midwife.

When the midwife started the iron infusion procedure, Mrs A immediately found it painful – her hand felt tight as if there was a lot of pressure in her hand. Mrs A kept telling the midwife that she was in pain, but the midwife just reassured her that it was normal. Mrs A then got a sudden rush of nausea, and the midwife rushed to get a sick bucket. At this point, the midwife realised that Mrs A’s right hand was swollen and so she immediately pulled the cannula out.

Mrs A was monitored for 30 minutes after which she was discharged. Mrs A was advised that the swelling would go down overnight and the staining/discolouration would fade within a few weeks.

The swelling to her right hand went down, but the staining did not fade. As a result, Mrs A was left with a permanent brown iron stain across her right hand and wrist. Her arm was also tender at the site of the injury.

Claim brought against the NHS Trust

Mrs A brought a claim against the Defendant NHS Trust for:

• Negligently referring Mrs A for the Ferinject intravenous iron infusion, in breach of the Defendant NHS Trust’s policy on the administration of Ferinject iron infusions;
• Failing to obtain Mrs A’s informed consent for the Ferinject iron infusion;
• Failing to suspect and/or stop the iron infusion immediately once Mrs A had suffered an extravasation injury.

In their Letter of Response, the Defendant NHS Trust admitted liability in that Mrs A was responding positively to the oral iron supplements to the point that the need for the Ferinject iron infusion should have been reconsidered, and so the iron extravasation injury could have been avoided entirely.

Following negotiations, Osbornes are pleased to have achieved a 5-figure settlement for Mrs A without the need to issue Court proceedings.

Find out more about NHS Compensation Payouts here.

How we can help

By holding the NHS Trust accountable and securing a five-figure settlement without the need for court proceedings, Osbornes helped Mrs A find closure and recognition for the harm she endured. If you’ve suffered due to poor medical care, our Medical Negligence solicitors are here to support you. Our expert solicitors will be able to guide you through the NHS complaints process and advise you on whether or not a claim for medical negligence is possible. Contact Osbornes Law by:

• Filling in our online enquiry form; or
• Calling us on 020 7485 8811