Lung victim meets health chiefs
A MAN who had surgery to remove a lung following a mistaken cancer diagnosis has now met health chiefs from NHS Grampian.
Former firefighter Laurie Ball, 58, from Mossbank, was featured in The Shetland Times last month. He was claiming compensation for the error, which cost him his health and his job.
Mr Ball had a meeting last Thursday with NHS Grampian chief executive Richard Carey and medical director Roelf Dijkhuizen at the Sumburgh Hotel to discuss the circumstances regarding his operation.
Mr Ball said: “They were courteous, respectful and sympathetic for my situation and apologised that a comprehensive explanation wasn’t given after the operation.”
Also at the meeting was Hazel Anderson from Shetland Advocacy who attended on the suggestion of MSP Tavish Scott. Ms Anderson handed a statement to the health chiefs which Mr Scott had been given by the Scottish health minister to say that the Scottish government was looking into costing a no-blame compensation system.
The case is now in the hands of Mr Ball’s legal team. He said: “Hopefully there will be a speedy conclusion.”
