A patient who was left scarred for life when an operation left him with horrific burns on his buttocks has received a payout after suing the NHS. Paul Hickman, 44, underwent routine surgery to improve circulation in his legs when medics wrongly used a heated mattress.
He ended up with significant burns as a result of an alcohol-based solution coming into contact with the back of both thighs and backside. Paul was left in constant pain and scarred for life following the operation in March 2021.
Paul took legal action against NHS England trust which admitted a breach of duty led to his "prolonged stay in hospital”. He has now received an apology and an undisclosed payout to access the ongoing support he needs following his injuries.
Paul said: “I hoped that the surgery would go well and would improve my health. However, all I remember afterwards was being in severe pain. To be told I had suffered burns was a complete shock and at first was difficult to try and take in. I couldn’t understand how that had happened.
“The pain from the burns and scars I had all down the back of the tops of my legs was unbearable. I was in so much pain and painkillers didn’t really take the edge off. While it’s nearly two years since the incident it still affects my life.
"While the burns are healing I still have a lot of marks and scars and I’ve been told I’ll have some scarring for life. Because of my injuries I now have to sit differently and lean more to the side. They feel dry and scaly and I have to apply cream.
“The hardest thing to try and accept is that I feel what happened to me could and should have been avoided, especially as sadly somebody else was injured before me and action to prevent it happening to someone else apparently taken. While nothing will make up for what’s happened I’m pleased that I’ve at least got answers and I can try to start looking to the future rather than dwelling on the past.
“I just hope that by sharing my story it prevents anything like this happening to anyone else."
After the procedure, Paul complained of severe pain and it emerged that he had burns to his thigh and buttocks. An NHS investigation found the use of heated mattresses was stopped in the type of procedure Paul underwent after another patient was burnt in 2016.
Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russell Hall, acknowledged that it was inappropriate to use the type of heated mattress during the procedure. The report found the use of alcohol-based solution during Paul’s preparation for surgery and the “inappropriate use” of a heated mattress in surgery led to his burns.
The “unusual combination created the ideal circumstances to create a significant burn” on Paul, the report said. Alexandra Roberts, the medical negligence specialist at Irwin Mitchell representing Paul, said: “This is an extremely worrying incident in which Paul received severe but avoidable burns.
"What’s even more concerning is that Paul’s injuries came after another patient was injured in a similar incident and the Trust had taken measures to apparently avoid a repeat of such an incident. What happened to Paul and how it has impacted on his life has been incredibly tough for him both physically and emotionally.
“While nothing will make up what he’s been through, we’re pleased to have provided him with the answers he deserves. We now call on the Trust to ensure it learns all lessons possible from Paul’s case so that its guidance around the use of heated mattresses is upheld at all times.”
Diane Wake, Chief Executive of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said previously: “We offer our sincere and wholehearted apologies to Mr Hickman who sadly sustained his burns during life-saving surgery.
"We have carried out a comprehensive review into the incident and this particular type of heated mattress, while appropriate in most surgical procedures, is no longer used for the type of vascular procedure undertaken on Mr Hickman.”
