A pensioner who was left with a weak, husky and painful voice as a result of negligence on the part of the doctor who had operated on her at an NHS hospital has won £35,000 in compensation. As a result of her injury, the 70-year-old woman has difficulty making herself heard and has had to give up singing in her local church choir.

The woman suffered nerve damage that affected her vocal cords during an operation to unblock an artery in her neck. The NHS trust which managed the hospital denied liability. However, following a hearing, the High Court found that the injury was probably caused by the surgeon's negligence.

The woman tried to return to her job as a sheltered housing warden after the operation but found that her condition made it impossible for her to do the work. She is socially handicapped by her weak voice and has little hope of finding further employment.