November 10th, 2009
A teenage girl who was left severely disabled after complications during her birth has been awarded medical negligence compensation.
Charlotte Gillespie, of Ramsbottom, now suffers from cerebral palsy, epilepsy and obsessive compulsive disorder as a result of errors made during her delivery, reports the Bury Times.
Her mother Marilyn was made to walk to theatre during the birth and it was the contention of the Gillespie family that Charlotte should have been delivered by Caesarean section.
The family received an undisclosed amount in medical negligence compensation from Bury Health Care NHS Trust over the delivery at Fairfield Hospital in 1996.
Marilyn Gillespie said: "We can now provide her with all the medical care she needs for the rest of her life."
Earlier this month, 11-year-old Grant Hembry was awarded more than £270,000 in medical negligence compensation after blunders during his birth resulted in nerve damage that has left him unable to use his right shoulder, arm and hand.
Tags: Blunders, Brain Damage, Bury Times, Caesarean Section, Cerebral Palsy, Contention, Epilepsy, Fairfield Hospital, Gillespie Family, Health Care Nhs Trust, Medical Care, Medical Health, Medical Negligence Compensation, Nerve Damage, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Ramsbottom, Shoulder Arm, Teenage Girl, Wins
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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.
Tags: 1 Million, 14 Year Old Girl, Bbc, Brain Damage, Caesarean Section, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Left Brain, Medical Negligence Case, Medical Negligence Claim, Money, Norwich Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Nhs Trust, Oxfordshire, Oxygen, Physical Disabilities, Snowdon, Tahlia, Wins
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September 29th, 2009
A family has been awarded £410,000 in compensation after a woman died due to errors during a caesarean section.
Joanne Lockham, 45, had been admitted to Stoke Mandeville Hospital at Aylesbury in October 2007 and staff made the decision to give her a caesarean when her baby’s heartbeat dropped.
The patient was put under a general anaesthetic, but doctors mistakenly inserted the oxygen tube into her oesophagus and not her windpipe. She was deprived of oxygen for half an hour and her heart stopped a minute after the baby was born.
Ms Lockham’s life support was turned off two days later.
Her husband Peter decided to sue Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust after it admitted liability for the death and for "serious failings" in Ms Lockham’s care.
Mr Justice Burnett has now approved a compensation settlement of £410,000 for the loss and to cover the long-term care needs of the baby.
According to Babycentre.co.uk, approximately one in four pregnant women gives birth by caesarean every year.
Tags: Aylesbury, Babycentre, C Section, Caesarean Section, Doctors, General Anaesthetic, Half An Hour, Heart, Heartbeat, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Joanne, Long Term Care, Mr Justice, Oesophagus, Oxygen Tube, Pregnant Women
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July 16th, 2009
A couple are seeking legal action against an NHS trust after their baby was delivered so forcefully that part of his scalp detached.
Charlene Steel and Robin Heslop – the baby’s parents – claim they had pleaded with staff at Cumberland Infirmary to perform a Caesarean section following two hours of difficult labour, the News and Star reports.
However, medics continued to try to use a ventouse cap to pull the baby out.
When baby Bobbie was born, his head was bleeding and his parents fear he may have brain damage.
"The midwife was pulling so hard the veins on her arms stuck out," commented Mr Heslop.
Ms Steel believes that doctors should have recognised the traumatic labour and should have given her a Caesarean section. They have now taken legal action against North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust for negligence.
The trust declined to comment while the case goes through the appropriate legal channels.
According to BabyCentre.co.uk, rates of Caesarean delivery in the UK vary from place to place; in some locations it is as low as 13 to 15 per cent, while in others it may be 25 to 30 per cent.
Tags: Baby Bobbie, Babycentre, Brain Damage, Caesarean Delivery, Caesarean Section, Charlene, Cumberland, Cumberland Infirmary, Heslop, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Labour, Legal Channels, Medics, Midwife, Ms Steel, Negligence, North Cumbria, Star Reports, University Hospitals Nhs Trust, Veins
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May 15th, 2009
A girl who was left severely brain damaged after she was starved of oxygen has secured a compensation payout of £4.8 million.
Jodie Stock, now 19, was born at the Royal Free Hospital but her mother suffered a placental abruption in the hours leading up to her birth. However, doctors did not perform an emergency Caesarean section, the BBC reports.
Consequently, Jodie was left with learning difficulties, epilepsy and motor problems and will need care for the rest of her life.
Through her mother Janet Taylor, Jodie took legal action against the North Central Strategic Health Authority.
It admitted 80 per cent liability for the injuries Jodie sustained and agreed to a payout of a £1.45 million lump sum and £106,160 a year for the rest of her life.
The family’s solicitor said the compensation will give Jodie’s parents "peace of mind" that she will be adequately cared for after they are gone.
According to the Centre for Neuro Skills, over 1,000 children die or suffer permanent brain injury every year in the UK because of shortage of oxygen around the time of birth.
Tags: Bbc, Bbc Reports, Brain Injury, Caesarean Section, Doctors, Epilepsy, Janet Taylor, Learning Difficulties, Left Brain, Lump Sum, Mother Janet, Neuro Skills, Oxygen, Parents, Peace Of Mind, Placental Abruption, Solicitor, Strategic Health Authority, Time Of Birth
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