Botched QE ops left patients with brain damage
University Hospitals NHS Trust apology after catastrophic medical mistakes led to strokes
AGRANDMOTHER and a teenager were both left with lifechanging injuries after suffering strokes during botched brain surgery at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital within weeks of each other.
Jane Grocott and Arundeep Marva have been left with severe brain damage after medics made catastrophic mistakes during operations in 2018.
Both suffered life-altering strokes caused by blood vessels being damaged when they went under the knife at the QE.
Grandmother-of-three Mrs Grocott, 66, has been left wheelchairbound with severe memory problems, reduced speech and is now completely reliant on her husband to care for her.
She suffered a stroke when a clamp on her skull – called a Budde Halo set – moved during a brain tumour operation in October 2018.
Four weeks earlier Arundeep, then 18, also had a stroke when an artery in his brain was torn while he underwent surgery for a cancerous brain tumour.
He was left unable to walk unaided with severe weakness down the right side of his body as well as speech difficulties.
Both families could now face a huge payout from the NHS after University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust admitted liability in both of their cases.
Mrs Grocott’s husband Chris, 66, has now spoken of his heartbreak at watching his wife struggle day after day at their home in Stafford and called on lessons to be learned.
Chris has to feed his wife, who is also now registered blind, and she
has to be moved around using a hoist.
Mr Grocott, a retired dentist, said: “Before Jane’s stroke we really enjoyed life as a family and were looking forward to our retirement.
“Sadly, that’s all in the past for us now, and seeing my wife struggle day after day is heartbreaking.
“Jane used to be independent and looked after all of us, but now she needs everyone else to help care for her.
“Jane has very poor short-term memory and little to no spontaneous speech. She will answer questions but cannot strike up a conversation, which is so different to how she used to be.
“It’s difficult not to get upset at how our lives, but particularly Jane’s, have changed forever because of the failings in her care.
“However, as a family we also don’t want to try and dwell on the past.
“The admission by the Trust means we can now focus on getting Jane the best care possible, allowing her the best quality of life she can have.
“We just hope that by speaking out we can help raise awareness of the impact a stroke can have and try and prevent what happened to Jane from happening to others.”
Professor David Rosser, chief executive of the biggest NHS trust in England, wrote in a letter to Mr Grocott: “I am very sorry that Jane did not receive the level of care that she was entitled to expect from the Trust and that we aim to provide to all our patients.
“I would like to offer the Trust’s sincere apology and regret that there was a failure to treat Jane appropriately and we are sorry that this resulted in Jane suffering a serious brain injury which has had such as significant effect on both of you.”
Arundeep Marva’s parents Ravinder, 52, and Rupinderjit, 49, are also calling for lessons to be learnt as a result of the errors which led to their football-mad son losing his independence.
Mr Marva, now aged 21 of Walsgrave-on-Sow, Coventry, has been attending neuro-rehabilitation,
speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy sessions.
He is now able to walk unaided indoors but still suffers from ongoing weakness down the right side of his body.
He also has difficulties with understanding and expressing language, particularly finding the correct words.
His father said: “He was in a really bad way afterwards and suddenly lost his growing independence.
“Arun’s ongoing weakness in the right side of his body meaning he struggles with day-to-day tasks.
“The last few years and seeing how life has turned out so differently for Arun has been difficult to accept. As a parent all you want is what’s best for your child.
“Despite his many challenges we couldn’t be prouder of Arun and the courage and determination he shows.
“We know it won’t be easy but he’s determined to make the best recovery he can. It’s also important that lessons are learned from what happened to Arun. Our family wouldn’t want others to go through what he has.”
It’s difficult not to get upset at how our lives have changed because of the failings in her care.
Chris Grocott