Woman, 26, unable to have children naturally after surgeon removes wrong fallopian tube

A healthcare worker has been left unable to have children naturally after surgeons removed the wrong fallopian tube by mistake.

Chelsie Thomas, 26, was admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital in March last year after tests show she had an ectopic pregnancy in her right tube.

But, during an operation, the surgeon removed the left fallopian tube instead, her lawyers said. 

Ms Thomas, who is employed by the trust which runs the hospital, was discharged the following day, but was later called back in after staff raised concerns after reading her medical notes.

Another scan identified that she still had an ectopic pregnancy – a pregnancy in which the foetus develops outside the uterus, typically in a fallopian tube.

Ms Thomas, from Walsall, had to undergo surgery, performed by a different surgeon, to remove the right tube, meaning she now cannot conceive naturally.

The hospital has admitted liability and has offered to fund one round of IVF treatment for Ms Thomas.

She said: “None of this seems real. I am heartbroken and just feel numb at what has happened.

“After I came round from my first operation I felt really ill. I was in so much pain, which continued throughout the day.

“The next day the doctor who carried out the surgery came to see me and at this point told me that the operation went really well and I was told I could go home that morning.

“Shortly after I got home, I received a call asking me to go back to hospital for a scan. As I was being scanned, I said that I thought that the ectopic pregnancy had been removed and then I saw my baby’s heartbeat on the screen.

“I started to cry instantly. I couldn’t speak as I was lost for words.

“It has been difficult to come to terms with the fact that I have not only had unnecessary surgery but have been left unable to have more children naturally.”

Ms Thomas instructed law firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care under Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital.

Lawyers acting for Ms Thomas welcomed the NHS trust’s acceptance of liability and urged health bosses to act on recommendations from the hospital’s own post-incident report as soon as possible

Senior associate solicitor Jenna Harris said: “Understandably Chelsie has been devastated by the events that unfolded and she is still struggling to come to terms with not only losing a child, but also the fact that she faces the possibility of not being able to have more children in the future.”

Dr Matthew Lewis, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust medical director, said the findings of the “robust” investigation had been shared following the incident.

He said in a statement: “We would once again offer our sincere apologies to the patient involved for the fact that our care fell below the standard that we would expect for anyone who uses our services.

“In this particular case, while the necessary checks were carried out before surgery and consent was given, an error was regrettably made.”