An eight-year-old girl who was left severely disabled after complications arose during her birth at a Kent hospital has won a multi-million-pound compensation pay-out from the NHS.
The girl suffered brain damage after a delay during her teenage mother’s labour at Medway Maritime Hospital led to her being starved of oxygen. The Medway NHS Foundation Trust has agreed to a settlement of her claim after legal proceedings were launched.
Although the precise terms of the compromise were kept confidential, the girl, who is confined to a wheelchair, will receive a very substantial lump sum, as well as index-linked and tax-free annual payments to cover the costs of her care for life. The package is bound to be worth millions of pounds over her lifetime.
Her mother, who was aged 18 at the time of her traumatic labour, said, “It was an incredibly frightening experience; I was very young, scared and didn’t know what was wrong. I just wanted to make sure that my daughter was fine.”
The girl’s family argued that an avoidable delay of 15 minutes caused her injuries. The Trust acknowledged that she should have been born 10 minutes earlier, but contended that she would in any event have suffered some brain injury and a degree of disability.
If you or a loved one has suffered medical negligence and you need legal advice, Russell Worth solicitors can help you. Visit our dedicated website at www.medicalnegligence-solicitors.com or call us today on 0800 028 2060.