Doctors left a vaginal swab ‘the size of a mini football’ inside a young mum’s vagina

Claire Lalor, has been awarded £100,000 after she developed a ‘significant infection’.

The 30-year-old went to hospital twice complaining of pain and a smell coming from her lower body however staff failed to carry out external examinations.

Ms Lalor was awarded nearly €140,000 (£99,000) in damages by the High Court in Ireland for the injuries and trauma she suffered.

According to the Irish Mirror Mr Justice Kevin Cross found the trauma that the hairdresser, from County Dublin, suffered was ‘extreme’.

The National Maternity hospital accepted liability for the mistake.

Ms Lalor’s baby was delivered following a difficult birth on Christmas Eve, 2012.

She was discharged on December 27 but went back in on January 2 and January 9, over concerns about pain and a smell from her lower body.

She was not examined until she went back on January 16 and doctors found the swab.

Ms Lalor was sent home but suffered sweating, chills, fever and diarrhoea.

She was taken to Beaumont Hospital where she was diagnosed with C.dificile as a result of the unnecessary anti-biotic treatment she was put on before the swab was found.