Medical negligence at birth leads to £6m compensation

A medical negligence case has been won against an NHS Trust and the compensation payment was set by a judge at £6 million.

Following accidental suffocation at birth, the victim, now eight years old, was left with cerebral palsy and significant disabilities, with the Daily Mail revealing he requires 24-hour care.

Medical negligence liability was denied by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust for eight years, before executives apologised to the family and acknowledged mismanagement of the birth directly led to the boy's condition.

His father commented: "A financial award can never compensate for what happened, but it does mean our son has some assurance for his long-term care, which is a great load off our minds."

A recent report in the Western Mail showed cases of medial negligence in Wales leapt by 60 per cent in 2009-10, with the Cwm Taf health board exhibiting the worst rise, up 276 per cent from £1,879,000 to £7,065,000.

Published by Rose Orlik