A man left disabled after medics delayed emergency surgery has received more than £70,000 in compensation.

Anthony Venner, said he suffered extensive back pain and urinary and bowel problems after doctors in two hospitals delayed urgent surgery by 24 hours.

The 34-year-old, who mounted a High Court case against Eastbourne District General Hospital and Hurstwood Park Neurosciences Centre, in Haywards Heath, has now been awarded £72,500 in an out of court settlement His solicitor, Philippa Luscombe, said: “It has been a long journey to get to the stage where the hospitals agreed to compensate Mr Venner for the problems caused by the delay.”

Mr Venner, who lives in Eastbourne, was admitted to hospital in February 2005 with classic signs of cauda equina syndrome - a serious condition that affects the nerves in the spine.

The condition, which is caused by the compression of the nerves at the base of the spine, requires urgent treatment to prevent permenant damage.

However neither hospital treated him quickly enough leaving his condition to worsen.

Despite Mr Venner suffering from clear symptoms of CES, Eastbourne DGH did not do the required MRI tests until the next day because they did not have the correct equipment to use at night.

There was also a delay in transferring him to Hurstwood Park for emergency surgery.

Mr Venner was eventually operated on 48 hours after being urgently referred to hospital by his GP.

Since the delayed surgery, Mr Venner has had ongoing problems with the feeling in his lower back and difficulties with one leg.

Because of his disability he was also forced to give up his job as prison officer and had to sell his home.

He now suffers from depression.

Ms Luscombe said: "This case highlights the importance of cauda equina syndrome being diagnosed and treated as a matter of urgency.

“The key problems that ultimately resulted in the delay appeared to have been the lack of beds at Hurstwood Park, lack of emergency MRI facilities at Eastbourne Hospital and a failure on the part of both hospitals to appreciate that Mr Venner was a surgical emergency.”