Lecturer Left Paralysed After Late Diagnosis Wins Compensation

After a seven-year legal battle, a college lecturer has won compensation after delays in his medical treatment left him paralysed.

Tim Joplin, 58, an artist and lecturer at Dudley College, was admitted to Russells Hall Hospital with pain in his shoulder and neck. Doctors originally attributed the pain to a pulled muscle. Five days later, however, Mr Joplin was moved to another hospital, where a scan revealed that he had an abscess pressing on his spinal cord. He underwent surgery, but by this time it was too late to prevent damage and he lost the use of all four limbs.

Mr Joplin said that when he was first admitted to hospital, staff repeatedly refused to listen to complaints from his family concerning his care. He is now in almost constant pain and is unable to work or create art.

He has now been awarded £825,000 in compensation, payable by the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust.