Man Sues NHS After Doctors Dismiss Symptoms, Leaving Him with Football-Sized Hernia

In a case of medical negligence, 65-year-old Graham Shepherd has been awarded an undisclosed settlement after suing the NHS for failing to properly diagnose his condition. Over a nine-week period, Shepherd had visited his GP and gone to the hospital twice, complaining of severe back pain and weight loss. He also noticed a pulsating lump on his stomach, but doctors failed to conduct a full examination and sent him home with painkillers.

It wasn't until 64 days later that Shepherd was finally diagnosed with an 11.5cm abdominal aortic aneurysm, which doctors described as one of the biggest they had ever seen. Shepherd was told he had been a "walking time bomb" and underwent emergency surgery. However, the procedure led to further complications, including a torn bowel, suspected to have been caused by the painkillers he had been taking.

Shepherd spent over seven weeks in intensive care and has been left permanently disabled as a result of his ordeal. He is now unable to work and requires full-time care from his wife, Sarah, who had to give up her job as a healthcare assistant. Lawyers have now secured Shepherd a settlement, though the NHS denied liability. Shepherd hopes that by sharing his story, he can raise awareness and prevent others from suffering a similar fate.