The Facts

Debbie and Andrew were childhood sweethearts. They met and married as teenagers. They were always close and enjoyed their life raising a family and when their children left home, more quality time together.

Andrew loved his work as a Civil engineer and was much liked and respected.

However, Andrew’s health began to deteriorate with heart problems and in 2011, he was fitted with a pacemaker.  After that, Andrew deteriorated again; he had to leave work as a result and was told he needed a heart transplant and he was placed on the donor list.

Andrew underwent the heart transplant at South Manchester Hospital in May 2012.

As part of the procedure, a cannula was inserted into the existing heart in order to drain or vent any blood or air out of the heart before it was removed.

During this procedure, the cannula is connected to tubing and attached to a pump within a bypass machine.

However, the tubing was fed the wrong way around the pump which resulted in air being introduced into the heart instead of being sucked out.  This air, in turn, escaped into Andrew’s aorta, ending up in his brain.

It turned out that suction checks were not carried out properly on the bypass machine, and that is why the wrong fitting of the tube went undiscovered.

Andrew did not wake up as soon as expected from the operation and he was fitting.

A CT scan confirmed that he had suffered a stroke, damaging his brain.  

This news was absolutely devastating to his wife and family.

Andrew went on to have an extensive rehabilitation programme whereby he had to learn how to walk and talk again.

However, Andrew never regained his personality, nor the ability to live independently. He became a completely different person to his former self.  He behaved as if a young boy; he suffered with severe mood swings and he required 24 hour care which was provided mostly by Debbie. The husband she loved so dearly and the life they knew had gone. Andrew died in September 2014.

Fortunately, the Hospital did not defend the claim (this occurred after Andrew’s death). 

The Settlement

The claim was brought by Debbie on behalf of Andrew’s estate and on her own behalf as a dependent of his.

Debbie was pleased with the settlement and commented:

“To Julia and Lisa, Many thanks indeed for all the hard work you both did to achieve the outcome. The value, in terms of them admitting their fault, is priceless. Your kindness and understanding to my case showed throughout. Thank you for believing in Andy’s case and fighting for justice.”