Devastated woman infertile after surgeon removed wrong fallopian tube

Chelsie Thomas’ left fallopian tube was removed at Walsall Manor Hospital despite 'clear and unambiguous' test results showing the potentially life-threatening condition was in her right tube, an internal investigation found.

Chelsie, aged 26, a clinical support worker for the hospital trust whose care she was under, was discharged the following day.

She was recalled to hospital when maternity staff raised concerns after reading medical notes.

Another scan identified that she still had an ectopic pregnancy in her right fallopian tube.

Chelsie, from Walsall, had to undergo surgery, performed by a different surgeon, to remove the right tube, meaning she cannot conceive naturally.

Following her ordeal, Chelsie instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care under Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital.

The Hospital Trust has published an internal serious incident investigation report which came to the 'inescapable conclusion' that the original procedure 'was carried out without appropriate due diligence and attention'.

It has classed the incident as a 'never event' which is a list of problems the NHS has identified should never occur.

The Trust has offered to fund one round of IVF for Chelsie. It subsequently admitted liability.

Chelsie, who has a six-year-old son Riley-Jay, said: “None of this seems real. I am heartbroken and just feel numb at what has happened and devastated at how I can no-longer have children naturally.

“After I came round from my first operation I felt really ill. I was in so much pain which continued throughout the day.

“Shortly after I got home I received a call asking me to go back to hospital for a scan. As I was being scanned I said that I thought that the ectopic pregnancy had been removed and then I saw my baby’s heartbeat on the screen.

“I started to cry instantly. I couldn’t speak as I was lost for words. It has been difficult to come to terms with the fact that I have not only had unnecessary surgery but have been left unable to have more children naturally.

“I had planned on having two more children as I come from a large family. I wanted Riley-Jay to grow up with little brothers and sisters."

Jenna Harris, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Chelsie, said: “Understandably Chelsie has been devastated by the events that unfolded and she is still struggling to come to terms with not only losing a child, but also the fact that she faces the possibility of not being able to have more children in the future.

“Ectopic pregnancies can be extremely dangerous and Chelsie’s care has raised a number of very worrying questions. The Trust’s own findings in its internal investigation report are quite damning.

“While nothing can make up for what Chelsie has had to go through, we recognise that the Trust has admitted liability and made several recommendations in its incident report. We urge it to ensure these recommendations are implemented as soon as possible to improve patient care for others.”

Dr Matthew Lewis, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Medical Director, said: “We would once again offer our sincere apologies to the patient involved for the fact that our care fell below the standard that we would expect for anyone who uses our services.

“In this particular case, while the necessary checks were carried out before surgery and consent was given, an error was regrettably made. The trust investigates errors thoroughly in accordance with our internal governance processes, working with patients and their families, our own clinicians and staff to learn lessons and put systems in place to try and avoid such incidents.

“The previous Medical Director and senior colleagues met with the patient, observing our Duty of Candour, and the findings of the robust investigation have been shared. I am happy to arrange another meeting if she has any further concerns or questions.”