Man, 44, wins NHS payout after being left with severe burns on his buttocks

A man has won an NHS payout after suffering severe burns to his buttocks and thighs from a freak accident involving a banned heated mattress.

Paul Hickman, 44, from Walsall in the West Midlands, was injured during an operation to improve circulation in his legs in March 2021.

Before the botched procedure, doctors at Russells Hall Hospital applied an alcohol-based antiseptic to Mr Hickman’s thighs and buttocks.

Then they put him on a heated mattress.

Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, conducted an internal investigation and found: ‘The unusual combination created the ideal conditions to cause a significant burn.’

Mr Hickman has taken legal action against the Trust and has now received an apology and an undisclosed payout.

Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, conducted an internal investigation and found: ‘The unusual combination (of alcohol and the heated mattress) created the ideal conditions to cause a significant burn.’

He underwent an unspecified vascular procedure on March 29, 2021.

After the operation he complained of severe pain and was found to have burns on his thigh and buttocks.

He remained hospitalized until April 2, 2021, which led to the Trust announcing a major incident.

Following an investigation, the Trust admitted that a dereliction of duty led to Mr Hickman’s ‘prolonged stay in hospital’.

The investigation found the use of an alcohol-based solution during Mr Hickman’s preparation for surgery and the ‘improper use’ of a heated mattress during surgery led to his burns.

The probe also revealed that a similar incident had previously occurred at the Trust.

The use of the heated mattress had been banned in the type of procedure Mr Hickman underwent since 2016, when another patient was burned. Further details about this case were not given.

The payout awarded to Mr. Hickman would be for him “to access the ongoing support he needs after his injuries.”

Mr Hickman said: ‘The pain from the burns and scars I had down the back of the top of my legs was unbearable. I was in so much pain and painkillers didn’t really help.

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Alexandra Roberts, Irwin Mitchell’s medical negligence specialist representing Mr Hickman, said: ‘This is an extremely concerning incident where Paul suffered severe but preventable burns.

‘More worryingly, Paul’s injuries came after another patient was injured in a similar incident and the Trust took steps to apparently prevent a recurrence of such an incident.

“What happened to Paul and how it affected his life has been incredibly hard on him both physically and emotionally.”

She added, “While nothing will make up for what he’s been through, we’re glad we gave him the answers he deserves.

“We are now calling on the Trust to ensure it draws all possible lessons from Paul’s case so that his advice on the use of heated mattresses is upheld at all times.”

Mr Hickman said he is scarred for life as a result of the incident.

The investigation found the use of an alcohol-based solution during Mr Hickman’s preparation for surgery and the ‘improper use’ of a heated mattress during surgery led to his burns

He claims that he now sits differently and has to lean to the side because of the scars, which feel dry and scaly and rub him in every day.

“What happened to me is even more shocking is hearing about the previous incident,” he added

“I hope that by speaking out I can help prevent another similar incident from happening. This has happened twice and I don’t want it to happen again.’

Diane Wake, CEO of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, told MailOnline last year: ‘We offer our sincere and heartfelt apologies to Mr Hickman who unfortunately suffered his burns during life-saving surgery.

“We conducted an extensive investigation into the incident and this particular type of heated mattress, while suitable for most surgical procedures, is no longer used for the type of vascular procedure performed on Mr. Hickman.”