Negligent Cryotherapy Causes Permanent Scarring and Psychiatric Injury

Case Summary

Irvings Law successfully secured compensation for a client (“AB”) who suffered avoidable scarring and psychiatric injury following negligent cryotherapy treatment at a sexual health clinic operated by Barts Health NHS Trust.

Background

In January 2025, AB attended the clinic for treatment of genital warts. During the cryotherapy procedure, a trainee GP applied an excessive amount of liquid nitrogen outside the intended treatment area.

As a result, healthy tissue was unnecessarily damaged, causing significant pain, scarring, and permanent changes in skin pigmentation. Although the initial healing process took several weeks, visible scarring and discolouration remained long after the incident.

The consequences extended beyond the physical injury. AB experienced considerable psychological distress, including anxiety, embarrassment, and a loss of confidence, particularly in relation to intimate relationships. The incident had a significant impact on his self-esteem and overall quality of life.

Following a complaint investigation, the Trust accepted that an excessive amount of liquid nitrogen had been used during the procedure. The clinician involved subsequently underwent further training and supervision, and the Trust implemented a revised training pathway for GP trainees carrying out cryotherapy treatments.

Representation

AB instructed Hannah Winearls, Associate Solicitor at Irvings Law, to pursue a clinical negligence claim against Barts Health NHS Trust.

It was alleged that the cryotherapy treatment had been performed negligently, resulting in avoidable injury to healthy tissue and causing unnecessary physical and psychiatric harm.

Barts Health NHS Trust admitted liability and accepted that excessive liquid nitrogen had been applied during the procedure, causing damage beyond the intended treatment area. The Trust further acknowledged that, had reasonable care been exercised, the scarring and permanent skin changes would not have occurred.

Following negotiations between the parties, the claim was successfully settled for £12,000.

Can I Start a Medical Negligence Claim?

If you have suffered avoidable scarring, disfigurement, or psychiatric harm as a result of negligent medical treatment, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

Our specialist medical negligence team has extensive experience helping clients who have been injured as a result of mistakes in hospitals, GP practices and specialist clinics.

We act on a No Win, No Fee basis. If your claim is successful, the costs will be paid by the Defendant. If the claim is not successful, the costs will be written off and you do not have to pay anything.

Contact us today for a no obligation and confidential chat on 0151 475 1999 or Clin.Neg@irvingslaw.com to see how we can help you.

Photo by Albert Hu on Unsplash