Latest news with #IrwinMitchell
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots grandad left with prosthetic voice box after GP dismissed cancer as 'sinus problems'
Steve Barton, 68, repeatedly contacted his local practice after he began struggling with his breathing and swallowing. A Scots grandad has been left needing a prosthetic voice box to speak after GPs dismissed his throat cancer as "sinus problems". Steve Barton, 68, repeatedly contacted his local practice after he began struggling with his breathing and swallowing. But despite his concerns, doctors continued to put his symptoms down as reflux. Weeks after an initial appointment Steve's voice changed and he reached out again. At that point, the practice failed to issue an urgent referral to a specialist. It wasn't until five months later – when things got so bad that Steve went private – that a tumour was discovered on his larynx and he was rushed to have part of his throat removed. Steve, from Alloa in Clackmannanshire, was forced to retire early from his career as a heating engineer and now has a permanent hole in his neck. The hole impacts his speech, daily tasks and social life. Steve said: 'I used to work hard, go line dancing, played golf and take the grandkids swimming but I can barely do any of that now. I can't allow water to get in the stoma in my neck or it could enter my lungs – the risk of drowning in the bath or shower is so serious that my wife has to accompany me . 'Then of course there's simply not talking normally and people staring. Angry, sad, frustrated, deflated, confused… I've felt everything you can feel. This whole affair changed everything about my life but the way the GP practice treated me – and ignored me – was simply disgusting.' Insurers for Tor Medical Group at Plean near Stirling, which owns the practice, have admitted liability after Steve got help from law firm Irwin Mitchell. A compensation sum is due to be agreed for the grandfather in the near future. The legal action against the firm alleges that Steve – who was a non-smoker - first contacted his GP in August 2020 after three months of documented issues of a sore throat and pain in his ear. One GP prescribed omeprazole after diagnosing acid reflux. One month later Steve was put in touch with a second GP and a nurse considered an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) referral but decided to treat themselves. After a few more weeks, the grandfather was told by Tor staff that they would make a referral. However, apparently due to 'human error', it didn't take place. In November 2020 Steve finally got a referral to the ENT but he was added to the non-urgent two-week waiting list. By January the following year, Steve was in so much pain and distress that he sought a private referral at Kings Park Hospital in Stirling where an ENT consultant spotted a lesion suspicious of cancer of the larynx. Steve then underwent a procedure to remove his entire voice box at Forth Valley Hospital. As a result, he has a stoma in his neck which he breathes through. The device needs to be cleaned and maintained up to 10 times per day. Everyday tasks like coughing, eating and washing have become problematic for the grandfather. Steve said: 'I try to stay positive and focus on what I've still got to be grateful for but it's tough because I remember what I had and who I was compared to the future I now have to accept which we never planned for.' His devoted wife of 17 years Heather Barton, 62, who works as a hairdresser and line dancing instructor, added: 'The GPs blamed each other, even the receptionist and a malfunctional computer. It felt like they just didn't care. Steve's life changed forever overnight. "It's been a long journey for Steve. If the GP surgery just said 'Yep, you're right, I'm sorry' we'd have moved on but we were met with a wall of silence so we had no option but to get help because Steve didn't deserve this. 'We're glad we got an admission of fault – someone to accept that what happened to Steve was wrong or negligent 'We trust our doctors and follow their guidance but if someone feels wrong then people can't be afraid to challenge the advice and use our right to a second opinion. With that in mind, we'd like to thank the staff at Forth Valley Hospital 's ENT Department who have looked after Steve and will likely continue to do so for the rest of his life. 'We're still lucky. We still have each other and we're together. But we feel like Tor robbed Steve and I of what were meant to be our relaxing years after a life of hard work and impacted his physical and mental health so it's right they are held accountable.' A medical negligence claim was lodged in the National Personal Injury Court where Steve's lawyers argued if he was treated properly from the start then it was likely he would never have needed such extensive surgery. An admission of liability was later received from the Medical and Dental Defence Union Scotland – a b ody which indemnifies GPs across Scotland – and the case continues to ensure a fair sum of compensation is secured. Izabela Wosiak, Senior Associate at Irwin Mitchell in Edinburgh, said: 'What happened to Steve was traumatic and life-changing but what's worse is how avoidable it was. Medical negligence claims are complex and many people feel scared challenging a health board but when people have been affected like this – and feel ignored by those they believe are responsible – it's right that they have a way to protect what future they have left, and help improve standards for others. 'Although the defenders have admitted liability in this action the case is still very much ongoing so it wouldn't be appropriate to comment further.'
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'My wife was told pain after surgery was trapped gas - weeks later she was dead'
Retired hairdresser Val Burkill, 73, died following a botched routine procedure to remove gallstones - her husband Garry says his family has 'never been the same without her' A woman who died of sepsis three weeks after a routine medical procedure that was caused by sub-standard care was told she 'probably had trapped wind'. Retired hairdresser Val Burkill, 73, underwent a procedure to remove gallstones on October 1, 2020 at Rotherham Hospital, South Yorkshire. Known as endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP), a flexible tube with a camera on the end is used to help identify and diagnose issues with a person's bile ducts. The grandmother-of-seven's procedure only lasted eight minutes and she was discharged to her home in Bolton-upon-Dearne just an hour later. Yet despite complaining of stomach pain, no examination was carried out on her. Later in the evening, Val's husband, Garry, 79, called the hospital and was told she probably had trapped wind. However, feeling in 'absolute agony,' Val started vomiting. Garry called an ambulance, which took her back to the hospital. She would never return home. It wasn't until 15 days later – on October 16 – that Val was diagnosed with a perforated bowel. She developed sepsis and continued to deteriorate. She was transferred to hospice care and died on October 24. Because of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in force at the time, many of Val's family weren't even able to give her a proper goodbye. Following her death, devastated husband Garry commissioned medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care. Now, a review by Royal College of Physicians has found failures in the care of 58 patients at the hospital. A total of 25 patients 'suffered some degree of harm,' including seven who died, a Hospital Trust report said. Retired builder Garry said: 'Seeing her as her life slipped away is something that will stay with us forever. We still had so many years together and I feel robbed that these were taken away from us. 'It breaks my heart to think how she needlessly suffered and the treatment she received from Rotherham Trust. Our family will never be the same without Val. 'We knew we owed it to her to get answers regarding her care but it was still devastating when the Trust admitted Val would have made a full recovery if she had received the correct care. This latest news is hard to accept. We knew there were issues with Val's care, but we never expected there to have been failings in the ERCP service on such a large scale. 'Not only has this news shocked us but it has brought back the horrible memories around what happened to Val and the pain and suffering she had to go through in her final weeks. It's hard not to think that if she had gone to another hospital for her ERCP, Val would still be alive. 'Our family continues to have concerns about whether everything is being done to ensure the safety of patients and this latest news just adds to that. Our hearts go out to the others who have been affected by failings in the ERCP service.' Rotherham Hospital suspended its ERCP service on July 2021 after concerns were raised about the standard of care. A review carried out by the Royal College of Physicians has now been made public, more than two years after it was completed. The review found that 68 out of 959 patients died or suffered complications within 30 days of an ERCP procedure at the hospital, with 58 attributed to a failure of care. The Trust said it was contacting all 68 patients or their families earlier this month to apologise and to 'outline what the external review has said about their individual care.' The report found a range of care failures including inadequate recording of informed consent, deficiencies in reports and poor radiological documentation. A lack of discussion between medical experts and decision making were also of concern. Tim Annett, a medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: 'The scale and nature of the care failures identified raise serious questions about patient safety. That care concerns were identified four-year-ago and failings identified two-years-ago also raises serious questions about the Trust's transparency and clinical governance. 'While we welcome the Trust's decision to now contact affected patients and families, and its commitment to implementing the RCP's recommendations, it's vital that those impacted receive not only a full explanation but also appropriate support and redress. We urge the Trust to ensure transparency from now on and to work closely with patients, families, and legal representatives to rebuild trust and accountability.' Dr Jo Beahan, medical director at the NHS trust, said: 'We apologise unreservedly to patients and their families affected by the failures identified in the ERCP service review. The care provided to some of the patients who underwent the procedure was not at the level that we strive for. ERCP is a specialist type of endoscopy undertaken to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas. Less than 5% of endoscopies performed in the UK are ERCP. 'It carries well-recognised risks, and patients requiring an ERCP procedure may have complex underlying health conditions which are considered life limiting such as frailty or patients who have an underlying inoperable cancer. The Trust suspended the ERCP service in July 2021 when concerns were raised. "Overall, we have reviewed over 950 ERCP procedures and the care of 68 patients has been reviewed by independent experts. The care provided to 58 of these patients was identified as not being provided to an acceptable standard, with 25 of these patients experiencing a level of harm. "The Trust has contacted the patients or their relatives whose care has been independently reviewed, including those where no harm was found. We have apologised and explained the findings of the review. We will continue to support patients and families on an individual basis to ensure they have the opportunity to understand the care they or their relative received. We are aware that this may cause concern for other patients who have been treated at the Trust." He added that anyone with concerns about their care in endoscopy can contact the Trust's Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on or 01709 424461.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Parents 'respect' head's decision to leave Yeadon school
Parents have said they do not blame a headteacher and his staff for deciding to leave a primary school amid uncertainty about its Primary School in Yeadon was due to shut at the end of the school year but the plan was paused after parents launched a legal challenge over the council's decision. Headteacher Mark Duce, who will not return in September, said because of the lack of clarity over the school's future he and other teachers had taken the "incredibly hard decision" to find new jobs. Vicky Lancaster, whose children attended Queensway, said: "The work Mark has done has been amazing, and everybody in that school, we all respect him and just want the best for him." The school, which had already fought off closure in 2023, was due to shut at the end of the summer term due to dwindling pupil numbers and financial specialist education lawyers for Irwin Mitchell successfully challenged the authority's decision based on "significant flaws in the consultation process".Since then, parents and staff said they had been left in limbo over its future while Leeds City Council was working on a report on options for its Lancaster said: "I have the utmost respect for all the teachers, and Mark especially, and I understand they've had to do what's right for them." The 40-year-old said she had already moved her son and daughter to another school."I felt very disloyal doing this but the council has given us no indication what's going to happen, so because of this I decided it was time for them to leave."She said the school community could "hold their heads up high" at what they had parent, Rick Ansell, said parents and teachers had been "backed into a corner where they're forced to choose between paying the mortgage, or staying and praying the school survives".Mr Duce, who has been Queensway's head for four years, said he had "so much guilt" about his decision to leave but had reached a point where the school's future was out of his control."There's so much guilt because we do not want to leave this wonderful school behind."But from a human and personal point of view, it's got to the point where the lack of clarity and the uncertainty continuing going forwards, I've had to make that decision to look elsewhere."He said the board of governors were working hard to find a replacement head and new teachers, but that he would not leave the school in a "weakened position".Leeds City Council said a report on the school was expected to be presented to the council's executive board in July.A spokesperson said: "As a foundation school, it is the governing body which is responsible for employment matters at the school, including the recruitment and retention of teaching staff. "The council continues to seek to provide support and advice to the school and is actively engaged with the head and governing body to ensure the school is appropriately staffed for September 2025." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Teachers to leave Yeadon school after closure threat
Teachers are set to leave a primary school due to its uncertain future despite a council reversing a decision to close it City Council said Queensway Primary School in Yeadon would shut at the end of this school year due to dwindling pupil numbers and financial the decision was put on hold after parents launched legal action. It is the second time the school has been threatened with closure since Mark Duce said he and other staff at the school had now made the "incredibly difficult" decision to leave amid the uncertainty. He said: "Despite the halting of the second consultation to close the school and due to the lack of clarity provided regarding the long-term future of Queensway at this stage, class teachers and myself have had to make the incredibly difficult decision to leave the school at the end of the summer."I am working alongside governors at present to ensure an effective leadership and teaching team is in place for September and will endeavour to share updates as soon as we are able to do so."We thank our parents and potential parents for their patience at this time."Fears were raised for the welfare of children with special educational needs after the council launched a consultation over the school's future. Law firm Irwin Mitchell then successfully challenged the closure decision, saying there were flaws in the consultation process, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Alan Lamb said the council should issue advice for parents of children to the school, which will now be open as normal in at an executive board meeting, he said: "What's been fed back to me is there has been a total lack of clarity. Very limited communication."However, councillor Julie Longworth said apologies had been given for the distress caused to teaching staff and families. "We have been in regular communication and conversation with the leaders in the school and also with the governors," she council said it has launched a "lessons learned" exercise to improve the way it would handle future school decisions.A report and recommendations will also be discussed by councillors on the Children and Families scrutiny board at a meeting on Wednesday 25 June 25. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Glasgow Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow faces higher inheritance tax bills in coming years
A report by Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie and Irwin Mitchell predicts a 29% increase in liable estates, growing from 210 in 2015/16 to approximately 270 by the end of 2026/27. The city's IHT liability is forecast to more than double, from £32 million to £69 million. Roddy Harrison, a private client partner at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie in Edinburgh (Image: Supplied) The average IHT bill per estate in Glasgow could reach £253,000, which is above the Scottish average of £211,000. The report's findings are based on a Freedom of Information request to HMRC, forming part of a broader analysis covering 177,000 estates across 121 UK postcode areas. Read more: 'Established' & popular retailer announces closure of Glasgow Fort store Greggs store closes temporarily - here's why Popular Grammy-award-winning singer announces Glasgow gig Across the whole of Scotland, the total number of IHT-liable estates is projected to reach 1,800 by the end of 2026/27, with a combined tax liability of £389 million. Roddy Harrison, a private client partner at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie in Edinburgh, said: "These figures show that families in Edinburgh and Glasgow are increasingly being drawn into the inheritance tax net. "With liabilities rising sharply and average bills now well above the Scottish average, it's vital that individuals seek tailored advice. "At Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie, we're helping more clients navigate these changes and protect their estates for future generations." From April 6, 2026, significant reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) will take effect. Full 100% relief will be capped at £1 million for combined qualifying assets, with amounts above this threshold receiving only 50 per cent relief. AIM-listed shares will also see reduced BPR eligibility. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that 130 estates will be impacted by APR changes and 1,440 by BPR, generating an additional £200 million in tax revenue in 2026/27. The analysis reflects a broader trend throughout Scotland, where rising property values and frozen thresholds are pushing more families into the IHT net.
