Molly Harbron went to A&E complaining of a numb and cold left leg, and despite doctors suspecting a blood clot, they failed to carry out tests – which led to her leg being amputated
A young woman who woke up in hospital to find her leg had been amputated due to a 16-hour surgery delay has received a six-figure payout. Molly Harbron was just 22 when she went to A&E crying in pain with a numb and discoloured leg.
Medics had suspected blood clots, but failed to carry out adequate tests. The following day, Molly woke from surgery to her worst nightmare – her leg had been amputated. The former carer, now 26, said: “I was in a lot of pain, I knew something wasn’t right. I was crying to my mum and asked her to take me to the hospital.
“All I remember was there being a delay and then waking up from surgery. When I was woken up the surgeon showed me they had amputated my leg. However, I didn’t really believe them as I could still feel my leg.
“When the realisation dawned on me I just broke down and cried. Before my amputation, life was great. I was really active, I went running three times a week and had a physically demanding job which I loved. But then it felt like life wasn’t worth living with one leg. I couldn’t come to terms with the fact I had lost a leg and I needed to take it further because I didn’t want it to happen to anyone else.”
Molly had arrived at A&E at 11.30am on April 25, 2020. Doctors suspected deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot in a vein – but did not carry out adequate tests to confirm this. Bosses at Dewsbury and District Hospital, in West Yorkshire, have since admitted that the 22-year-old would have likely avoided having her leg amputated if the surgery happened by 9pm the same day.
Instead, Molly wasn’t operated on until 1.30pm the following day – by which point doctors were unable to restore blood flow to her leg. She spent a further 18 days in hospital following the amputation, which led to her quitting her job as a carer. Molly was also left having to rely on others to carry her up and down the stairs to her first floor flat every day.
She instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care under Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, which admitted a breach of duty.
A month after leaving hospital, Molly met her partner Daniel, who she has since married. She was able to walk down the aisle through the use of a prosthetic leg, but said it was not designed for her body and felt uncomfortable to wear. Now, as part of a six-figure interim payout, Molly has moved to a bungalow and started using a specially designed privately-funded prosthesis.
She said: “The first prosthetic I had from the NHS was very uncomfortable. I could only wear it for an hour max. However, the new prosthetic fits to me. It helps me walk more smoothly. I can walk downstairs, go to the shops, drive and I’m hoping to run one day. It’s changed my life so much and I feel like a normal person again.
“I never imagined I’d have the life I have now. I have a brilliant husband, an amazing family; I never imagined that was possible. I thought my life was going to be me stuck in a wheelchair, until I realised I can do anything I put my mind to.
“By sharing my story I hope I can not only help others who may be struggling with going through something similar but also improve care. What happened to me could have been avoided so I want to try and prevent it happening to someone else.”
Lawyers are now working on getting Molly a final compensation package to pay for life-time support, physiotherapy, and upkeep of her prosthetic. Ashlee Coates, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Molly, said: “Through our work we too often see how failings connected to inadequate assessments and delays can lead to significant injuries.
“Molly’s case vividly highlights the life-changing repercussions patients can be left to face. Molly has faced an incredibly difficult time attempting to come to terms with the physical and psychological impact of her losing her leg. However, she’s always remained determined to make the best recovery possible.
“We knew the priority for Molly was ensuring she had a suitable home to live in and access to the specialist support she required. The part payment of compensation has allowed this to happen. The progress in her rehabilitation has been phenomenal and Molly is now working towards the life she wanted.
“Although her story is a stark reminder of the need to uphold the highest standards of patient safety, it also highlights how, through early access to rehab, people can start to flourish after losing a limb.”
Richard Robinson, Chief Medical Officer at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: ”We are deeply sorry for what happened to Molly and acknowledge that the care she received fell short of the standard she deserved. I sincerely apologise to Molly and her family for the impact this has had on her life. I am glad she feels she is now getting the support she needs and is able to share her story to help others.
“Our priority is to ensure patients receive the right diagnosis and timely treatment. In this case, we failed to do so. We have fully reviewed what happened, and we are committed to making the necessary improvements to prevent this from happening again.”