April 21st, 2009
Two parents from Stockport are seeking compensation from the NHS after their baby died during a failed breech birth.
Kate Share, 29, was not diagnosed with a breech birth until she was in the birthing pool and staff at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport decided to take a ‘hands-off’ approach, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Obstetrician Dr Amit Majumdar told a midwife who tried to deliver the baby’s head to stop and wait.
Baby Alfie died from suffocation on the resuscitation table 23 minutes after he was born.
Ms Share and her partner Richard Leeming have launched legal action against Stockport NHS Trust for negligence after a coroner ruled that staff should have acted sooner.
"We want to ensure that lessons are learnt and that no other parents have to endure the pain we have had to go through," said Mr Leeming.
According to BabyCentre.co.uk, only around 0.4 per cent of all breech births now occur naturally in England, with most staff advising a Caesarean section.
Tags: Alfie, Amit, Baby Parents, Babycentre, Birth Parents, Birthing Pool, Breech Birth, Breech Births, Caesarean Section, Coroner, Leeming, Majumdar, Manchester Evening News, Midwife, Negligence, News Reports, Nhs Trust, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, Suffocation
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March 25th, 2009
A woman who almost died after doctors failed to diagnose her cervical cancer has been awarded a five-figure sum in compensation.
Nichola Grimshaw had her second child by Caesarean section in 2003, but began to suffer from pain and heavy bleeding, local newspaper the Messenger attests.
Although she had been told by medics at Wythenshawe hospital in Manchester to wait a month before returning for a check-up, she booked an emergency colposcopy a week later.
It was then that doctors discovered a cancerous tumour so large it was crushing her kidneys.
"The doctor took one look inside me and ran out of the room, I was terrified. He booked me in for surgery that afternoon," Ms Grimshaw commented.
She was taken to Christie’s, where she had chemotherapy and radiotherapy which saved her life.
The NHS trust responsible for Wythenshawe Hospital has now awarded her compensation and said the procedures for cervical screening have been overhauled since the incident.
Anyone who has endured pain and suffering as the result of a cancer misdiagnosis, that would not have occurred had the diagnosis been correct, may be entitled to claim compensation and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Caesarean Section, Cancerous Tumour, Cervical Cancer, Cervical Screening, Chemotherapy, Christie, Diagnosis, Doctors, Figure Sum, Kidneys, Legal Advice, Medics, Nhs Trust, Pain And Suffering, Radiotherapy, Woman
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October 30th, 2008
A boy who suffers from spastic cerebral palsy as a result of being starved of oxygen at birth has been awarded a compensation payout so that his family can afford his long term care.
Macauley Joyce’s mother Susan Joyce began suffering problems in her pregnancy at 26 weeks, when she developed pre-eclampsia, a condition that causes dangerously high blood pressure.
However, she was not admitted to hospital until a week later, when Macauley was delivered by caesarean section, Newbury Today reports.
The child was starved of oxygen and developed spastic cerebral palsy, which accounts for 80 per cent of cerebral palsy cases in the UK and results in tight muscle groups which limit movement.
Now, Dr Jonathan Hayward – whom the family say should have admitted Ms Joyce to hospital sooner – and the Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust have admitted liability and Macauley will now be paid compensation of £1.1 million in a lump sum, as well as yearly payments for the rest of his life.
"After many appointments, assessments and much determination, I feel I can now start to live a normal family life, knowing that Macauley is fully provided for," Ms Joyce said.
Tags: 1 Million, Appointments, Caesarean Section, Cerebral Palsy, Dr Jonathan, Hayward, High Blood Pressure, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Jonathan, Life Quot, Long Term Care, Lump Sum, Mother Susan, Muscle Groups, Oxygen, Pregnancy At 26 Weeks, Royal Berkshire, Susan Joyce, Tight Muscle
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October 14th, 2008
A young boy who was left severely brain damaged when he was starved of oxygen at birth has received a compensation payout from the hospital his mother claims was responsible.
Aidan Farley-Walsh, now nine, was born at Southend Hospital in 1999, but was left blind and with cerebral palsy after suffering "catastrophic" brain damage, the Essex Echo reports.
His mother Tina launched legal action, claiming that staff at the hospital should have delivered him by Caesarean section sooner.
Although the hospital denied liability, it has now agreed an out-of-court settlement with the family and its legal representatives.
Aidan has now been paid an undisclosed sum of compensation in the form of annual payments to cover his long term care.
If sub-standard care during pregnancy or birth can be proved to have caused cerebral palsy, compensation can be sought to cover the costs of care to ensure an improved quality of life and financial security for the lifetime of the child.
Usually, expert medical opinion will be required on the standard of care received and this will be based on clinical examination and the medical records of the mother and baby.
Tags: Aidan, Brain Damage, Brain Injury, Caesarean Section, Cerebral Palsy, Court Settlement, Essex, Financial Security, Left Brain, Legal Representatives, Lifetime, Long Term Care, Medical Records, Mother And Baby, Mother Claims, Oxygen, Pregnancy, Quality Of Life, Tina, Undisclosed Sum
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September 3rd, 2008
A hospital has admitted it was negligent in the care it provided to a pregnant woman and her baby 17 years ago.
Susan Cuthbert was admitted to Grimsby Maternity Hospital in 1991 for an emergency caesarean section.
She gave birth to Frances Ferrier nine weeks prematurely, reports the Grimsby Telegraph.
However, in the weeks following Frances’s birth, she was discovered to have developmental problems and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
She needs 24-hour care and has learning difficulties and vision problems.
Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority has now admitted the baby should not have been delivered so early and the two sides are now working on an agreement as to the amount of compensation the family should receive.
An NHS spokesperson said: "The Strategic Health Authority has admitted negligence for the failings in obstetric management which led to Frances’s injuries."
Around five per cent of cerebral palsy cases occur during birth, while 15 per cent develop after the child is born.
Tags: 17 Years, Caesarean Section, Cerebral Palsy, Clinical Negligence, Cuthbert, Ferrier, Grimsby Telegraph, Hospital Negligence, Learning Difficulties, Maternity Hospital, Nine Weeks, Pregnant Woman, Spokesperson, Strategic Health Authority, Vision Problems, Yorkshire
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