Pryers solicitors in York recently settled a clinical negligence case that involved a child who had been starved of oxygen at birth. The child had developmental problems as a result of what had happened and required ongoing care and assistance, aids and equipment and also adaptations to property. The case was fought on liability, causation and value by the Health Trust until eventually the case was settled just prior to the final hearing at the High Court. The settlement of £2.1 million has changed the life of the child and family who can now look forward to a better future.
Disabled boy wins clinical negligence claim
November 9th, 2009
A boy has been awarded more than £250,000 in a clinical negligence claim against Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.
Grant Hembry of Plymouth, who is now 11, was awarded the money after a medical blunder during his birth left him with shoulder dystocia, a condition that meant he was unable to use his right shoulder, arm and hand because of nerve damage.
He was awarded £270,795, including £60,000 for the pain and suffering caused by the incident, after the Trust admitted clinical negligence, reports The Herald.
A spokesman for the Trust said: "We were extremely disappointed by this [incident] and apologise for it as we strive to provide the highest possible standard of care to all of our patients."
Last month, a ten-year-old boy was awarded £7.1 million in a clinical negligence claim against Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust.
Harry Snowdon of Oxfordshire suffered brain damage as a result of complications with his birth.
Girl wins medical negligence claim for brain damage
November 6th, 2009
A 14-year-old girl has been awarded millions in compensation after winning a medical negligence claim against the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
Tahlia Downes was deprived of oxygen during her birth, leaving her with severe mental and physical disabilities.
Her mother brought the medical negligence claim against the hospital on the grounds that she should have been given a Caesarean section during the birth, reports the BBC.
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital will pay the family compensation after the judge in the case ruled that it should pay 70 per cent of the full valuation of the claim.
The payout is expected to run into millions once a final figure is reached, money that will be used to provide care for Tahlia for the rest of her life.
Last month, ten-year-old Harry Snowdon of Oxfordshire was awarded £7.1 million in compensation in a similar medical negligence case against Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, in which he was left with brain damage following difficulties with his birth.
Lancashire parents sue hospital after daughter is paralysed
October 28th, 2009
The parents of a girl who was left paralysed after having an operation on her back are suing the hospital where she was treated.
Laura May, now 15, had begun to develop a curvature of the spine when she was 11, the Lancashire Evening Post reports.
The girl’s parents agreed that surgery was necessary and Laura was admitted to Royal Preston Hospital in February 2005.
However, surgeon Roger Battersby Smith got too close to the spinal cord during the procedure and now Laura is unable to move from the chest down.
Christine and William May have taken legal action against Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, alleging that the surgeon did not adequately monitor the distance between his tools and the girl’s spine and was therefore negligent.
The hospital claims it took "reasonable care" to ensure Laura was safe.
Earlier in 2009, the Telegraph reported that three NHS patients every month are now receiving compensation of over £1 million each because of failures in their care in hospital. 
Hearing to begin into Swindon hammer attack
October 19th, 2009
London’s High Court is to hear evidence this week regarding a hammer attack that left a schoolboy fighting for his life.
Henry Webster, 18, was a pupil at Ridgeway School near Swindon when the incident happened in January 2007.
He had agreed to meet another pupil on the tennis courts after school following an altercation, but was ambushed by a group of much older boys when he got there.
The gang had claw hammers and Mr Webster was left with brain damage.
He took legal action against the school, claiming that it had done nothing to prevent racial tensions which had been threatening to erupt for some time.
At a hearing in May, Judge Hagen said it was "astonishing" that staff had not been supervising pupils after hours, but the school denies that it was responsible for the attack.
The victim is claiming £1 million in damages from the school in a case which is to see scores of witnesses take to the stands this week.
Schools have a duty of care towards pupils and anyone injured while on school premises should seek advice from a personal injury lawyer, as they may be eligible for compensation.
