Dennis Burns had to undergo amputation of his foot as a result of his gout not being properly treated.
A former UNISON trade union rep has spoken of his “daily nightmares” after a medical error led to him having to suffer an amputation injury.
Dennis Burns, 81, from Middlesborough, has received £225,000 in compensation after turning to his union and Thompsons Solicitors.
In 2015, Mr Burns sought medical treatment for gout. He should have been prescribed allopurinol – a medicine commonly used in the treatment of gout – but his GP failed to act.
The result for Mr Burns was that his gout continued to worsen, leading to soft tissue breakdown in his foot and his contracting osteomyelitis - an infection that causes severe pain in the leg bones. Eventually, there was no choice but to amputate his foot.
The whole experience has caused Mr Burns substantial mental anguish but also severely impacted his ability to travel around his local community, as he so often did as a trade union rep.
He said: “From morning through to night it's constantly on my mind. I’m still having daily nightmares about the whole episode.
“It’s so frustrating because the pain and suffering I’ve had to go through, culminating with the amputation, was entirely avoidable. It has ruined my life.”
Mr Burns’ GP should have treated him with the appropriate gout medication and followed the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. His failure to do so has had serious, life-changing consequences for his former patient.
Mr Burns added: “I’d like to thank my solicitor at Thompsons and UNISON for their support, for bringing the claim to a satisfactory conclusion. I can’t turn the clock back but I can try and make my new life easier with the damages I have received.”
Compensation, however well deserved, can’t take away the physical and mental pain he has endured and will continue to endure.
Fiona Belgian, personal injury specialist at Thompsons Solicitors.
Thompsons’ Fiona Belgian, who represented Mr Burns, said: “Although we are pleased to have secured such a substantial settlement for Dennis, you cannot put a price on your health. Compensation, however well deserved, can’t take away the physical and mental pain he has endured and will continue to endure.
“There's at least some financial security for Dennis, and he can feel that he has held accountable those who have failed to provide him with the most basic healthcare.”
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