Woman Obtains Five-Figure Settlement for Anaesthesia Awareness

A woman has obtained compensation after experiencing anaesthesia awareness following surgery.

After the surgery had been completed, she was not given the correct reversal drug. As a result she regained consciousness but was unable to move to move or speak until the error was corrected. Her experience left her with long-term psychological injuries, including complex post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic anxiety and insomnia.

She sought legal advice and a claim was brought against the NHS trust responsible for the hospital where she was treated. An investigation revealed that the adequacy of the reversal had not been checked and that there was a delay in identifying the mistake.

The NHS trust admitted liability, issued a formal apology and agreed to a five-figure settlement of her claim.