A WOMAN who suffered panic attacks after a botched operation left her with further disfigurement to her face has said she will never have surgery again.

Tammie Stanley, from Witney, has received an apology and compensation from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust after undergoing plastic surgery in 2014.

The 41-year-old was severely burnt in a mobile home fire as a two-month-old baby and has had some 40 operations over the course of her life to relieve scarring.

She said: "The initial injury has never affected me. I had good parents and my brothers and sisters supported me; I just got on with everyday life.

"The only difference was going in and out of hospital, which I got used to."

On July 11, 2014, Miss Stanley underwent a Z-plasty release - a plastic surgery technique to improve the appearance of scars - at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

During the surgery the consultant took the decision to take a skin graft from her neck, despite her having not consented to a graft.

The procedure left Miss Stanley with a new scar on her neck in an area not affected by her burns and reduced sensation to her face.

She said: "It wasn't until I got home that I realised this wasn't what I went in for. The operation completely changed how my face looked.

"I couldn't bear to look at myself in the mirror and experienced severe depression and panic attacks.

"I felt uncomfortable to leave the house unless it was with my partner and I had to quit my job because I couldn't face people who knew me before the surgery."

Following the incident the mother-of-one contacted medical negligence lawyers Fletchers Solicitors to bring a claim against the hospital trust.

In June OUH made admissions formally accepting responsibility for surgeons not gaining consent or discussing alternative procedures.

Miss Stanley, who has since found another job at a care home and is now slowly rebuilding her confidence, said: "No amount of money will change what has been done.

"It was never about the money. It was about them recognising they shouldn't make that judgement. If you have to, ask the person who's down as my next of kin, or leave my face alone. I can invest in some other types of treatments now, but it won't be surgery."

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesman Kaelum Neville said: "This has been an extremely difficult experience for Miss Stanley.

"The Trust wishes to apologise for some aspects of her treatment which were not conducted to a satisfactory standard.

"We extend our apologies for pain and distress that this has caused her."