Mum sent home twice with rare spinal condition

Hayley Combe said she was sent home from hospital twice before being diagnosed with a debilitating spinal condition

A mum said she was sent home twice from hospital with a serious spinal condition, despite suffering from "red flag symptoms".

Hayley Combe twice attended A&E at King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, in 2021, suffering from severe back pain, difficulty moving, pins and needles, and numbness in her legs.

An MRI scan later showed she had acute cauda equina syndrome, a compression of the spinal nerves, and she had to be sent to another hospital for surgery.

She has launched a medical negligence claim against Sherwood Forest Hospitals, which runs King's Mill, saying she is now in constant pain. The trust has apologised to Ms Combe.

Ms Combe, from Nottingham, said she had been referred to the hospital's "majors" unit for suspected cauda equina syndrome on 23 July 2021, but was sent home with painkillers after two junior doctor assessments.

She was then advised to arrange an MRI scan through her GP.

On 3 August 2021, Ms Combe said she had been told an MRI scan showed severe compression of her spinal cord.

The next day, Ms Combe was advised by her GP to attend King's Mill Hospital again following a loss of sensation and weakness in both legs.

"In the days before my second visit my legs had started giving way and I was using crutches to get around," she said.

"Even at that stage and after asking if I could remain in hospital until my [formal] MRI results were known, I was sent home.

Ms Combe said she had not been allowed to stay because of the risk of contracting Covid and was told it was "unlikely to be an acute problem".

"Deep down I knew something wasn't right but both times I went to hospital it felt like the doctors weren't too concerned," said the mum-of-three.

Ms Combe spent nine days in hospital following her surgery

Cauda equina syndrome is a compression of the spinal nerves at the tail end of the spinal cord.

When these nerves become compressed it can affect their function, which controls the bladder and bowel function, as well as sensation in and around your genitals, back passage, bladder, and bowel.

After being sent home again, Ms Combe's said it was "devastating" that scan results came back showing she had the condition and required an urgent referral for surgery.

The following day, Ms Combe's GP referred her to a different hospital, where she underwent emergency decompression surgery on 6 August 2021.

She said: "I can't thank enough the doctors who performed my decompression surgery but I now live with constant pain. I've had to adapt to new limitations, both physically and emotionally.

"My independence has been affected and I rely on aids and support to manage daily life.

"Even things many people take for granted such as playing with the kids and going out to work are a challenge."

'Incredibly traumatic'

Ms Combe's lawyers have now launched legal action against Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Julianne Moore, a medical negligence lawyer with Irwin Mitchell, which is representing Ms Combe, said: "What Hayley has gone through has not only been incredibly traumatic for her but also her family.

"The first-hand account we've heard from Hayley, in particular how she twice attended hospital with red flag symptoms of the condition, is particularly worrying."

Ms Combe said she "deserves answers", adding: "I want to know whether more could have been done to diagnose my condition sooner, and if so, would an earlier diagnosis have prevented the issues I now have to live with?"

Dr Simon Roe, chief medical officer at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said the trust was "sorry" about Ms Combe's experiences at hospital.

He said: "As legal action is under way, we are currently unable to comment on the specific details of this case.

"However, we work hard to maintain high standards and provide the best possible care for all our patients and are committed to continuously improving the quality and safety of the care that we provide.

"We value all opportunities to learn from examples where we have not delivered care to the high standards that we set ourselves."