Warning
HORROR ORDEAL
I went to A&E and was forced to wait 16 HOURS – when I woke up I was missing my leg
Molly at first couldn't believe her leg had been amputated as she could still feel it
A YOUNG woman woke up from surgery with a missing leg after she waited an agonising 16 hours in A&E.
Molly Harbron, 26, doesn't remember anything before waking up to find her leg was amputated - a living nightmare.
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The former carer, then 22, visited A&E crying in pain, with her foot and leg numb and discoloured.
Former carer Molly said: "I was in a lot of pain, I knew something wasn't right.
"I was crying to my mum and asked her to take me to the hospital. All I remember was there being a delay and then waking up from surgery.
"When I was woken up the surgeon showed me they had amputated my leg.
Read more on DVT
"However, I didn't really believe them as I could still feel my leg.
"When the realisation dawned on me I just broke down and cried.
"Before my amputation, life was great. I was really active, I went running three times a week and had a physically demanding job which I loved.
"But then it felt like life wasn't worth living with one leg.
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"I couldn't come to terms with the fact I had lost a leg and I needed to take it further because I didn't want it to happen to anyone else."
When Molly turned up at A&E with a numb and cold left leg and discoloured foot at 11.30am on April 25, 2020, medics suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
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This is a blood clot in a vein, usually the leg, that can be very dangerous.
But medics failed to carry out adequate tests and Molly faced an agonising 16-hour wait for surgery.
Bosses at Dewsbury and District Hospital, in West Yorkshire, admitted that Molly probably would have avoided having her leg amputated if she'd had surgery by 9pm same day.
Instead, her surgery was delayed until 1.30pm the following day - and doctors were unable to restore blood flow to her leg.
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She had to spend a further 18 days in hospital following the amputation, which led to her quitting her job as a carer.
Molly had to be carried up and down the stairs to her first floor flat each day, as she was unable to make the trip on her own.
She instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care under Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, which admitted a breach of duty.
A month after leaving hospital, Molly met her partner Daniel.
The couple has since married, and she was able to walk down the aisle through the use of a prosthetic leg.
However, the prosthetic was not designed for her body and felt uncomfortable to wear.
What happened to me could have been avoided so I want to try and prevent it happening to someone else
Molly Harbron
Now, after receiving a six-figure interim payout, Molly has moved to a bungalow and started using a specially designed privately-funded prosthesis.
She said: "The first prosthetic I had from the NHS was very uncomfortable. I could only wear it for an hour max.
"However, the new prosthetic fits to me. It helps me walk more smoothly.
"I can walk downstairs, go to the shops, drive and I'm hoping to run one day. It's changed my life so much and I feel like a normal person again.
Signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) you shouldn't ignore
DVT is a blood clot in a vein, usually in the leg, which can be dangerous.
Get medical help as soon as possible if you think you have DVT.
Symptoms of DVT affecting the leg are:
- Throbbing pain in one leg - rarely both legs - usually in the calf or thigh, when walking or standing up
- Swelling in one leg (rarely both legs)
- Warm skin around the painful area
- Red or darkened skin around the painful area – this may be harder to see on brown or black skin
- Swollen veins that are hard or sore when you touch them
These symptoms can also happen in your arm or tummy if that's where the blood clot is.
DVT can be dangerous as blood clots can break loose travel to the lungs, causing a potentially life-threatening pulmonary embolism.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you have symptoms of DVT along with breathlessness or chest pain.
You're more likely to get DVT if you are:
- Are over 60
- Are overweight
- Smoke
- Have had DVT before
- Take the contraceptive pill or HRT
- Have cancer or heart failure
- Have varicose veins
Source: NHS
"I never imagined I'd have the life I have now. I have a brilliant husband, an amazing family; I never imagined that was possible.
"I thought my life was going to be me stuck in a wheelchair, until I realised I can do anything I put my mind to.
"By sharing my story I hope I can not only help others who may be struggling with going through something similar but also improve care.
"What happened to me could have been avoided so I want to try and prevent it happening to someone else."
Hospital's apology
Lawyers are now working on getting Molly a final compensation package to pay for life-time support, physiotherapy, and upkeep of her prosthetic.
Ashlee Coates, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Molly said: "Molly's case vividly highlights the life-changing repercussions patients can be left to face.
"Molly has faced an incredibly difficult time attempting to come to terms with the physical and psychological impact of her losing her leg. However, she's always remained determined to make the best recovery possible."
Richard Robinson, chief medical officer at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: "We are deeply sorry for what happened to Molly and acknowledge that the care she received fell short of the standard she deserved.
"I sincerely apologise to Molly and her family for the impact this has had on her life.
"I am glad she feels she is now getting the support she needs and is able to share her story to help others.
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"Our priority is to ensure patients receive the right diagnosis and timely treatment. In this case, we failed to do so.
"We have fully reviewed what happened, and we are committed to making the necessary improvements to prevent this from happening again."
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