Compensation of £11,000 for GP negligence causing 2.5-year delay in diagnosis and treatment of Type 2 diabetes
23 July 2024
The specialist clinical negligence solicitors at Curtis Law Solicitors have recovered £11,000 in compensation for a client who experienced symptoms of undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes for 2.5 years because of GP negligence.
Mr L attended his GP practice complaining of a three-week history of pain between his shoulder blades, a productive cough, reduction of urinary stream, urinary urgency and nocturia. The GP arranged blood tests which returned a HbA1c result of 76 mmol/mol. This was higher than the range of 48 mmol/mol and was indicative of diabetes. The GP failed to notify Mr L of the result and subsequently failed to follow up the result.
Over the following two years, Mr L attended his GP practice on multiple occasions complaining of ongoing urinary issues. The GP failed to note the earlier blood test result, and instead referred Mr L to the urologists for further investigations. In one of the later consultations, the GP performed a urine dipstick test which was strongly positive (++++) for glucose, but no action was taken.
It was only when Mr L returned to his GP six months later complaining of weight loss thirst, dry mouth, nocturia, dysphagia, oral and penile thrush, deteriorating vision and neuropathy affecting his fingers and toes that his GP reviewed his records and noted the earlier blood and urine test results. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and started on medication to correct his blood sugars. By this time, Mr L’s HbA1c was 161 mmol/mol.
Expert evidence dealing with the impact of the delayed diagnosis and treatment of Type 2 diabetes was obtained from a Consultant Endocrinologist. The expert confirmed that, in addition to suffering symptoms of uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes for a number of years, Mr L faced an increased risk of developing long term cardiovascular, renal, retinal, neurological and peripheral vascular complication, and an increasing risk of macrovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and amputation. It was calculated that his life expectation had been reduced by approximately one year because of the delayed diagnosis.
Admissions of liability were secured which enabled the negotiation of a settlement of £11,000.
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