Woman who went into a coma after sent home from Wolverhampton's New Cross sues for damages

Medics admit that she should have been admitted overnight but deny that this oversight was to blame for the way the case ended - and now want to withdraw an earlier offer of £325,000 to settle the claim, the High Court in London was told..

The woman was "intoxicated" when she took a tumble on the night of August 24 2009, it was said. She was discharged later that evening. However, the following afternoon, she was 're-admitted to the hospital in an unresponsive state,' it was said.

Mr Justice Leggatt disclosed: "Despite treatment, she suffered a brain injury and has been left with a permanent disability." It was not explained what this entails.

The woman's lawyers are now suing the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, alleging that her injuries were caused by the failure of medics' to assess and treat her properly after the fall.

The judge added: "The Trust has admitted negligence in failing to admit her to hospital on August 24 2009 overnight for observation but it denies that its negligence had any causal effect on the woman's clinical outcome."

The case was in court for the judge to consider whether the Trust should have permission to withdraw a £325,000 offer to settle the woman's claim.

He ruled that, unless the Trust swiftly produced evidence to support this premise and fully explained its wish to withdraw the offer, judgment would be entered in the woman's favour for £325,000.