Erna McGuinness, a 67-year-old grandmother from Glasgow, died in January 2022 after a doctor allegedly refused to perform a routine scan on her foot and instead used unclean scissors to remove a mass, leading to septic shock and the amputation of her left leg. Her daughter, Eileen McGuinness, 36, has spoken out about the ordeal, which began in August 2020 at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Procedure Without Anaesthetic
Eileen claims that the doctor did not use anaesthetic and that her mother pleaded for the procedure to stop. “She said ‘that’s sore’ and ‘you’re hurting me’ but they continued,” Eileen said. The doctor is no longer employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
After the procedure, Erna was left with a large open wound that was simply bandaged. By 2pm the same day, she went into septic shock and was rushed back to hospital via ambulance, where surgeons amputated her left leg to save her life.
Legal Battle and Settlement
The family initiated legal action in September 2021. After delays, the NHS offered a five-figure settlement out of court, which Eileen accepted in November 2025. The case was originally scheduled for the high court in March 2025 but was delayed. Eileen said the NHS was “dragging their heels”.
“I was so tired after six years of back and forth I couldn’t do it any longer,” she said. “I don’t know how they got away with it for so long.”
Impact on Erna’s Life
Erna, who had COPD but was otherwise active, became bed-bound after the amputation. Her daughter described how her mental state declined: “When her leg went her whole mental state went. She basically wanted to end her life because she couldn't live in the pain and misery she was in.” Erna died in January 2022.
Eileen said her mother had been an independent woman who loved bingo, her grandchildren, and hosting large family gatherings. “It killed her in the end – it destroyed her,” she said.
NHS Apology
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “While we cannot comment on the details of any patient’s care, our sympathies remain with the family of Erna McGuinness. We recognise the care Erna received was not what should have been expected, and we are deeply sorry for her experience and the impact this had.”
