Spine misdiagnosis woman gets £2m NHS payout

Ms Tait was sent home from Cheltenham General Hospital in 2009

A woman who became disabled after medics failed to spot a collapsed disc is to receive more than £2m in damages from the NHS.

Cheltenham General Hospital discharged Heather Tait from Sutton Coldfield without carrying out an MRI scan after she complained of back pain in 2009.

It meant surgery was delayed and led to her suffering from constant back pain.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has apologised for failing to provide sufficient care.

Honest patient

The trust admitted negligence in 2011 but disputed the amount of damages that were being claimed, and accused Ms Tait of exaggerating her condition.

But in a ruling at the High Court in London Judge Martin McKenna said Ms Tait, 34, was being honest.

The final amount of compensation has yet to be agreed but Ms Tait's lawyers said it should be just over £2.4m.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has apologised for failing to provide "an appropriate standard of care" which led to her suffering from cauda equina syndrome.

A spokesman said: "The parties have been working together to establish the needs of the claimant.

"Unfortunately we were unable to reach agreement as to the appropriate level of damages to reflect the injuries suffered by the claimant and the claim therefore proceeded to trial.

"While we recognise that the claimant will have ongoing health issues that will need to be managed, we hope that the sum awarded by the court will help to support and improve the claimant's quality of life."