Woman who had fingers amputated during bakery shift gets six-figure settlement

“My fingers were intact but flattened – Digby Brown got me the help I needed.” 

It was a normal shift at the bakery where Fiona McCall worked but as she cleaned pastry off the plunger of a pie casing machine it malfunctioned.

Her right hand was trapped under immense pressure and the mould had reached a temperature of 280C.

Unable to reach the emergency shut-off, the grandmother called her colleague for help and, using a crowbar, they managed to pry Fiona’s fingers free. 

Recalling the traumatic incident, Fiona said: “It was 10 or 15 minutes before I was able to get my hand out.

“The safety gloves I was wearing had disintegrated.

“My middle and index fingers were still intact but they were flattened and burnt and my skin was badly injured.”

“I didn’t realise the implications”

Fiona was taken to hospital for an initial assessment but was told she would have to travel nearly two hours to St John’s Hospital in Livingston for treatment.

Plastic surgeons fought to save her hand but when medics confirmed she had no blood circulation in her fingers they realised they had no option but to amputate. 

Fiona said: “I think I was in shock because I just thought, ‘Oh, well, they're just going to be gone’. 

“I don't think I really took it in at the time or realised the implications of not having them.”

“No text, no nothing”

After the surgery the 61-year-old struggled with pain and anxiety, often keeping her hand in her pocket so people couldn’t see it.

She was unable to carry out daily tasks, relying on her husband to help with everything from writing letters to washing her hair.

But what hurt her more was the lack of contact from her boss.

Fiona explained: “My boss's wife took me to the hospital but I never heard from her again. 

“And my boss, he phoned me maybe a week and a half later and apologised for not coming to see me.

“But other than that no one came to see how I was doing and that wasn’t very nice because I had worked there for more than 15 years.

“I thought I was going to work there until I retired.”

“I wouldn’t have got half the help I did without Digby Brown” 

Unable to return to work, one of Fiona’s family members suggested she contact Digby Brown for help. 

That’s where she met Catriona Headley, Partner in Digby Brown’s Edinburgh Office, who has years of experience supporting people involved in accidents at work.

She gathered hospital records and instructed independent experts to assess the physical, mental and financial impact of the accident.

Catriona was able to secure two interim payments to support Fiona with her loss of wages and to pay for two types of prosthetic fingers.

Fiona received a cosmetic pair which matched her hand and a functional set which would allow her to do everyday tasks.

Further physiotherapy helped her relearn how to do basic tasks like preparing food while wearing the aids.

Securing the best settlement was crucial to make up for Fiona’s lost wages and pension contributions and to give her a sense of justice. 

Two offers were rejected as Catriona felt they did not fairly reflect the seriousness of the injury or its impact before a final six-figure sum was agreed.

Fiona said: “I thought the whole process would be very formal but Catriona was lovely, she’s a very warm person and I could tell she wanted to do the best for me.

“She was always easy to reach and would call me back if I didn’t get her the first time. 

“I’m quite anxious, but I felt I could trust her with what I was saying.

“It took a while for the figure to sink in but it means my future is secure and I can help my family. 

“I don’t think I would have got half the help I did if it wasn’t for Digby Brown.”

Fiona’s boss was fined £1,400 after admitting health and safety breaches following a criminal prosecution.