£2.5M for Milnrow mum after operation error

£2.5million has been awarded to a woman from Milnrow who suffered permanent brain damage after surgery at Rochdale Infirmary.

61-year old Patricia Richards has been in a seven year battle for compensation since her routine surgery went wrong in 2001.

Since the operation, the mother of two has required 24-hour care from her husband Robert. He was forced to sell the family home and give up his job to care for his wife. Now the money awarded by Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust, which runs the infirmary, will pay for professional care.

The 2001 operation went wrong because Mrs Richards vital signs were not properly monitored and a lack of oxygen caused her to suffer permanent brain damage.

The family will now receive annual payments of £100,000, as well as a £750,000 lump sum.

A Pennine Acute Trust spokesman said: “The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is pleased that the court has approved the settlement reached with Mrs Richards and her family in respect of her claim resulting from the treatment that she received at the Trust in 2001.

“A letter of claim was received by the trust in November 2004 and an apology was subsequently made to Mrs Richards for the treatment given.

“The Trust wishes Mrs Richards and her family well for the future.”