A hospital trust in Cambridge has paid out a six-figure settlement to victims of a deadly bacterial infection in its water supply.
Three patients died and six others suffered severe complications, which are still affecting them, after an outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus at Royal Papworth Hospital.
Law firm Irwin Mitchell said the patients were diagnosed after admissions to the specialist transplant hospital between July 2019 and August 2022.
Now, following a civil claim, out-of-court settlements have been reached for the victims, though the Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, denies liability.
Lawyer Jatinder Paul said: ‘Patients were admitted to this world-renowned hospital to undergo transplant surgery or seek treatment for serious lung conditions in the hope of a better life.
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‘While the surgical care itself hasn’t been an issue, the events that unfolded have been devastating for them and their families.’
M. abscessus is a serious bacterial infection which is known to be resistant to drugs and replicates quickly.
Those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable, and can cause lung disease, skin infections and central nervous infections.
Large public buildings with water systems, such as hospitals, are at increased risk of waterborne contamination, meaning the bacteria can multiply rapidly.
Double lung transplant patients Karen Starling and Anne Martinez both died at the hospital after contracting the infection.
Mrs Starling, 54, of Ipswich, Suffolk, died on February 7, 2020, and 65-year-old teacher Mrs Martinez, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, died on December 17, 2020.
In a joint statement, Mrs Martinez’s sons Tony, 43, and Andrew, 38, said: ‘We hoped that when mum underwent her transplant it would be the start of a brighter future.
‘Even six years on from mum’s transplant, it’s difficult to comprehend the events that unfolded.’
Mrs Starling’s husband, Derek, said: ‘Losing Karen in such circumstances is something our family will never truly come to terms with. The pain of losing her is still as raw now as it was the day she died.’
Eilish Midlane, chief executive at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We acknowledge agreement of this settlement and our thoughts go out to the patients and families involved.
‘We recognise this has been possible due to the cooperative approach adopted by all parties, for which we are very grateful.
‘Providing safe and compassionate patient care is our top priority, and as part of our investigation in 2019, we worked tirelessly to investigate, understand, manage and control the outbreak.
‘As acknowledged by Irwin Mitchell, we acted appropriately and complied with all the relevant regulations.
‘Lessons have been learnt at a local and national level, with regulations revised to seek to avoid a similar occurrence in the UK.
‘Clinicians at Royal Papworth Hospital are now at the forefront of research into the disease, and we are happy to share our findings and learning with any other organisation that may benefit.’
Deaths from bacterial infections in hospitals have happened before in the UK. In 2019, six people died after eating pre-packaged sandwiches linked to a listeria outbreak in NHS hospitals.
Public Health England (PHE) said patients fell ill from listeriosis after eating a Good Food Chain product.
Listeria infection is rare and usually causes a mild illness in healthy people.
However, it can have more serious consequences among those with pre-existing medical conditions, pregnant women and those with a weak immune system.
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