A young woman who went into A&E crying woke up to discover her leg had been amputated after she waited 16 hours for surgery.
Molly Harbron, 26, said she was in ‘a lot of pain’ as she made her way to Dewsbury and District Hospital in West Yorkshire.
The former carer’s foot and leg were left numb and discoloured by blood clots and she knew ‘something wasn’t right’.
But Ms Harbron has now been handed a six-figure payout as doctors admitted they probably wouldn’t have had to chop her leg off if she’d had surgery by 9pm the same day.
The then-22-year-old made her way to A&E complaining of a numb and cold left leg and discoloured foot at 11.30am on April 25, 2020.
Medics suspected deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot in a vein – but failed to carry out adequate tests.
Just over a day later, Ms Harbron woke up from surgery to discover the amputation.
She said: ‘I was in a lot of pain, I knew something wasn’t right.
Molly Harbron post-amputation. Hospital staff admitted Ms Harbron probably would have avoided having her leg amputated if she’d had surgery by 9pm same day
‘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. 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. 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.’
Hospital staff admitted Ms Harbron 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.
She had to spend a further 18 days in hospital following the amputation, which led to her quitting her job as a carer.
Molly Harbron before her leg amputation. She said: ‘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’
Ms Harbron needed 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, she 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, Ms Harbron said the prosthetic was not designed for her body and felt uncomfortable to wear.
Now, as part of a six-figure interim payout, the former carer 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.
Lawyers are now working on getting Ms Harbron a final compensation package to pay for life-time support, physiotherapy, and upkeep of her prosthetic
‘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.
‘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.’
Lawyers are now working on getting Ms Harbron 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 her said: ‘Through our work we too often see how failings connected to inadequate assessments and delays can lead to significant injuries.
‘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.
‘We knew the priority for Molly was ensuring she had a suitable home to live in and access to the specialist support she required.
‘The part payment of compensation has allowed this to happen. The progress in her rehabilitation has been phenomenal and Molly is now working towards the life she wanted.
‘Although her story is a stark reminder of the need to uphold the highest standards of patient safety, it also highlights how, through early access to rehab, people can start to flourish after losing a limb.’
