Widow of patient who died during routine operation in call for inquiry
The widow of a man who died after a routine operation at Stafford Hospital today called for the General Medical Council to launch an inquiry after receiving a five-figure payout.
Sylvia Vernon has settled out of court with Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. Her husband Brian died after a surgeon severed a major vein and artery during an operation to remove his gall bladder in 2009.
Lawyers Irwin Mitchell revealed today that Mrs Vernon, from Rugeley, wants further action taken against the surgeon who carried out the operation. The firm is backing her claim.
Mr Vernon, a father of three, died 13 days after undergoing a keyhole procedure during which his portal vein and artery, which carry blood to the liver, were severed.
The 67-year-old, who also had four grandchildren, had been married to his wife for 45 years. He was transferred to the specialist liver unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham but lost his fight for life.
An initial investigation by the GMC was closed with the regulator recommending further training for the surgeon. A narrative verdict was later recorded at an inquest in 2011, which heard Mr Vernon's death resulted from complications of surgery when a vein was lacerated, causing significant blood loss.
The decision to remove Mr Vernon's gall bladder was taken after the organ had caused him severe sickness and pain over the course of a year.
Mrs Vernon, aged 70, said: "We still miss him greatly and while nothing will bring him back, we want to see the surgeon thoroughly investigated by the GMC."
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust medical director, Robert Courteney-Harris, said: "We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Mr Vernon's family for their sad loss."
