October 26th, 2009
A 14-year-old boy has been awarded compensation for clinical negligence after a hospital admitted that its failings caused his cerebral palsy.
The unnamed victim was born prematurely at Billinge Hospital, but staff failed to properly administer ventilation, the Manchester Evening News reports.
He is now wheelchair-bound and will need round-the-clock care for the rest of his life.
The child’s parents took legal action against Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust and – after an 11-year legal battle – have now been awarded compensation that will allow them to specially adapt their home for their disabled son.
"The trust very much hopes that the compensation monies will provide life-long security and enable the individual to fulfil their potential," a spokesperson for the hospital said.
According to figures published by Scope, approximately one in 400 babies in the UK is born with cerebral palsy every year. This may be caused by a blocked blood vessel, complications in labour, extreme prematurity or illness just after birth.
Tags: 5 Million, Babies, Blood Vessel, Cerebral Palsy, Clinical Negligence, Clock Care, Extreme Prematurity, Foundation Trust, Labour, Manchester Evening News, Monies, News Reports, Nhs, Parents, Scope, Spokesperson, Ventilation, Wheelchair, Wigan
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November 27th, 2008
A woman whose post-operative care was mismanaged by a hospital has received a substantial payout for the injuries she went on to sustain.
Clair Simpson, now 27, had open heart surgery for a congenital defect when she was 11 months old.
Although staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital successfully carried out the operation, Ms Simpson’s drug therapy afterwards was not managed properly and she had a heart attack which caused brain damage, the Winsford Guardian reports.
She now needs round the clock care and will never be able to live independently.
Ms Simpson’s mother Veronica sued the North West Strategic Health Authority and it has now agreed upon a payout of £5.8 million in order to cover care for Clair in the family home.
"No sum of money can ever compensate Clair and ourselves for what we have lost," Veronica said.
Compensation for brain damage will often be more substantial than that for other injuries since it must cover care for the remainder of the person’s life in most circumstances.
Tags: Brain Damage, Brain Damaged Woman, Circumstances, Clock Care, Congenital Defect, Heart Attack, Ms Simpson, Open Heart Surgery, Post Operative Care, Remainder, Royal Liverpool Hospital, Strategic Health Authority, Sum Of Money, Veronica, Winsford Guardian
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October 30th, 2008
A woman from Lincolnshire who was left disabled after an operation has been awarded an unspecified sum of compensation.
Sandra Compton-Lock, 67, was having a routine operation in 2003 when she suffered a haemorrhage, the Boston Standard reports.
She suffered brain injuries when the condition was not treated by medics at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital and was left needing round-the-clock care.
Michael Compton-Lock, her husband, launched a claim for compensation and judges have now granted this.
The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which owns the hospital, agreed to a payout after admitting liability, which will allow Ms Compton-Lock, who had been living in a nursing home, to move home.
Mr Justice Jack said: "[Mr Compton-Lock] and his wife now know where they are financially and I hope that all goes as well as it can go."
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is deemed to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress.
Anyone who has suffered personal injury in England or Wales following a medical procedure or as a result of wrongful advice may be entitled to compensation and is advised to seek legal representation.
Tags: Boston, Brain Injuries, Clinical Negligence, Clock Care, Haemorrhage, Health Service, Hospitals Nhs Trust, Injury Death, Legal Representation, Lincolnshire, Medical Procedure, Medics, Michael Compton, Mr Justice, Nursing Home, personal injury, Pilgrim Hospital, Quot, Routine Operation, Sandra
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October 27th, 2008
A nine-year-old boy has secured a compensation payout from the hospital where he was born and subsequently suffered from brain damage which led to cerebral palsy.
Ben Nutbrown was born at New Cross Hospital, owned by the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Hospitals Trust, the Express and Star reports.
However, there were complications during his delivery and as a result, Ben is now confined to a wheelchair and needs round-the-clock care.
This week, his legal representatives have secured a compensation payout from the NHS trust for an unspecified sum, although it is believed to run into millions of pounds in order to pay for his care in the long-term.
The trust did not admit liability for Ben’s injuries and declined to comment on the case.
Mr Justice Lloyd Jones commented: "It is a huge misfortune that Benjamin suffered the injuries he has, but I hope this settlement will assist in helping him make the most of things. It is clear that he is a very bright young man and he has got huge potential."
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.
Compensation for brain injuries will usually be more substantial than that for other injuries, since it must cover care if the victim is unable to look after themselves.
Tags: Brain Damage, Brain Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Clock Care, Express And Star, Financial Security, Legal Representatives, Lloyd Jones, Misfortune, Mr Justice, New Cross Hospital, Nhs Hospitals, Nhs Trust, Nutbrown, Pregnancy, Quality Of Life, Star Reports, Wheelchair, Wolverhampton, Young Man
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October 22nd, 2008
A boy who suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of injuries he sustained at birth has won the right to compensation.
Jaskirat Sangha, now eight, was born at London’s Greenwich Hospital, but was starved of oxygen at birth, reports the Essex Echo.
As a result, he developed cerebral palsy and now has the mental age of a 12-month-old baby, needing round-the-clock care.
This week, his family, who have battled for compensation, was awarded a lump sum of £1.7 million, as well as annual payments of as much as £195,000 to cover his long term care.
In a similar case earlier this month, Chad Willis, now 18, won £2.36 million as a lump sum, as well as £106,000 a year for the rest of his life, from North Tees General Hospital as a result of injuries suffered during his birth in 1990, the BBC reported.
According to Scope, one in 400 children born in the UK has cerebral palsy.
Tags: 7m, Bbc, Cerebral Palsy, Clock Care, Essex, Greenwich Hospital, London, Long Term Care, Lump Sum, Month Old Baby, North Tees General Hospital, Oxygen, Sangha, Scope
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