Patient has recurring nightmares of having skin cut after not properly anaesthetised

An NHS hospital has admitted it failed to properly anaesthetise a patient who was operated on while conscious – leaving her with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and recurring nightmares.

The woman, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said she screamed out as the gynaecological surgery at Yeovil District Hospital began to operate, but could not be heard through her oxygen mask as the surgeon cut into her belly button.

Medical negligence lawyers said she was given a spinal rather than general anaesthetic during the procedure at the hospital in Somerset last year.

She remained conscious while a laparoscope – a long camera tube – was placed inside her, and her abdomen was filled with gas.

Her law firm Irwin Mitchell said that an increase in blood pressure had alerted staff to her discomfort, but that the procedure was continued.

The woman, who is in her 30s, said: “I have suffered a lot with PTSD and the nightmares have been horrendous.

"I have these images lying on a table with people watching me and not listening to my screams. It is terrible and I can wake up around three times a week due to this.

"I'm also now very nervous and paranoid around doctors too – my trust has just been shattered.

"While nothing will change what has happened to me, I just hope that lessons can be learned so no one else faces similar problems in the future."

A spokeswoman for Yeovil Hospital said the incident was the result of “a breakdown of communication” which “led to the use of a different anaesthetic to that normally required for such an operation”.

She added that the hospital was “sorry if this patient suffered any distress as a result”.

"However, this case is yet to be resolved with the claimant and we will therefore not discuss this further.

"In a typical year, we carry out more than 15,000 operations, many of them life-saving, and we pride ourselves on the highest possible standards of care and safety."