Lawyers representing a 14-year-old boy who was left confined to a wheelchair, blind and unable to speak due to alleged negligent failures in his resuscitation following heart surgery when he was 13 months old have achieved a settlement of his case against the NHS valued at £8.7 million.
A medical crisis had developed after the baby underwent surgery to correct a cardiac defect. He suffered a respiratory arrest after the operation and was not resuscitated in time to save him from brain damage. The NHS trust which managed the relevant hospital agreed to the settlement without admission of liability.
The settlement, which was approved by the High Court, is made up of a £3.34 million lump sum, plus annual, index-linked and tax-free payments to cover the costs of his care for life. Those payments will start at £187,000 before rising to £217,000 when he turns 16 and to £276,500 from his 19th birthday onwards. From the age of 23, he will also receive £30,000 a year to reflect his loss of earnings. His parents, who were praised on all sides, were awarded £239,386 as some compensation for the care with which they had lavished upon him to date.
If you have been affected by this story or have a claim for medical negligence against a hospital then speak to Russell Worth about your right to compensation. Call 0800 028 2060 or ask for a free call back from one of our clinical negligence solicitors.