Hewes v (1) West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust; (2) East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust; (3) Dr Pankaj Tanna [2018] EWHC 2715 (QB)
On 18 October 2018, Mr Justice Foskett granted the claimant’s appeal against the decision of Master Cook, in which he gave summary judgment for a GP defendant.
This was a case involving a cauda equina syndrome (CES). After becoming symptomatic, the claimant had spoken to an out-of-hours GP and was later taken to hospital by ambulance, where he ultimately underwent surgery. He was left with a poor outcome, with ongoing bowel and bladder problems. As those advising in these cases will know, time is of the essence. Delay in treatment of CES often leads to significant and sometimes avoidable disability.
