10:19am Saturday 16th September 2006
A FATHER-OF-FIVE who claims his life was ruined by alleged medical blunders is suing two North-East hospital trusts for a six-figure sum.
Colin Beckham, 48, from Moorside, Consett, County Durham, claims that doctors at both the University Hospital of North Durham and The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough mistakenly gave him a drug overdose.
Mr Beckham, a former foreman pipefitter, said the alleged overdose while in the hospitals had had a devastating effect on his life.
According to Mr Beckham's solicitor, Ewan Lockhart, of Davies and Partners, his client was prescribed the recommended dose of the antibiotic gentamicin several times at both hospitals.
It is also claimed that Mr Beckham was given the drug for longer than the recommended 14-day limit.
Mr Beckham said: "I can only hobble around the house, I have to have help to walk outside and I am constantly dizzy."
His solicitors have served writs on the two parent trusts - County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust - in the High Court.
Mr Beckham claims his problems started in January 2002 when he went to his GP complaining of flu-like symptoms.
His GP prescribed antibiotics and Mr Beckham went back to work, although he still felt unwell.
In April that year, shortly after he married his second wife, Pamela, Mr Beckham became acutely unwell and was rushed to the University Hospital of North Durham.
Doctors diagnosed him with blood-poisoning (septicaemia) and then found he had a faulty aortic valve that needed surgery.
Doctors at the Durham City hospital allegedly prescribed gentamicin at twice the recommended daily level and increased it while he waited for his operation.
A week after he was taken to hospital, Mr Beckham's lungs filled with fluid and he was rushed to James Cook Hospital.
His solicitor claimed at this stage, the 120mg dosage was stepped up from twice a day to every four hours.
The overdose allegedly left Mr Beckham with the condition bilateral vestibular failure.
Mr Lockhart said his client is suing both NHS trusts, alleging medical negligence and at least a "six-figure" settlement was being sought.
Spokesmen for both trusts said they were unable to comment for legal reasons.
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