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
Posted in Clinical Negligence News | No Comments »
September 9th, 2009
A recycling worker from Wiltshire is in line for a seven-figure compensation payment after a botched neck operation left him severely disabled.
Michael Hart underwent surgery to remove a compressed disc at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in September 2008, in what should have been a routine procedure.
However, an error by surgeons led to complications which caused irreversible damage to Mr Hart’s spinal cord.
As a result, he is now confined to a wheelchair, with only limited movement in his hands.
Following his release from hospital in April this year, he began a medical negligence claim against Oxford Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust, which has now admitted full liability for the mistake made by its staff.
A compensation figure is still to be agreed, but it is almost certain to be more than £1 million, as it will take into account loss of earnings and the cost of long-term care for Mr Hart.
The news comes after the NHS Litigation Authority’s annual report revealed the health service spent £807 million to settle compensation claims in the 2008-09 financial year.
Tags: Compensation Claims, Compensation Payment, Health Service, Hospital Nhs Trust, Irreversible Damage, John Radcliffe Hospital, Litigation, Long Term Care, Loss Of Earnings, Medical Negligence Claim, Michael Hart, Nhs Litigation Authority, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital Nhs Trust, Recycling, Routine Procedure, Spinal Cord, Wheelchair, Wiltshire
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July 8th, 2009
A woman who was trampled by cows while walking her dogs along a public footpath has been awarded £250,000 compensation.
Shirley McKaskie, now 50, was walking to meet her partner at a nearby pub in Greystone Gill near Penrith when the incident occurred in 2003.
She was trampled and tossed around by the 40-strong herd of Simmental-cross cows, many of which had calves at the time.
Ms McKaskie was left with serious head injuries and is now brain damaged. She also broke several bones and has to use a wheelchair.
In a new development, Judge Howarth ruled that the victim had had to deviate slightly from the footpath due to an obstruction of nettles, but that she was still within her rights and should not have been put in danger.
The farmer, John Cameron, said he is to launch an appeal.
The Health and Safety Executive states that between April 1996 and March 2006, 46 incidents involving cattle and members of the public were investigated across Britain. Seven resulted in death.
Tags: Bones, Brain, Calves, Cattle, Cows, Dogs, Farmer John, Greystone, Head Injuries, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Herd, John Cameron, Nettles, Penrith, Public Footpath, Time Ms, Wheelchair, Woman
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July 3rd, 2009
An officer who was badly hurt when he jumped from a bridge into a reservoir is to receive millions in compensation after a judge deemed that he had been under pressure to do so.
Charles Radclyffe, 30, was an officer in the Irish Guards in 2003 when he was carrying out duties in Germany, the Salisbury Journal reports.
His senior officer told him he should make the 65-foot leap to prove his bravery and that it would be "bad form" if he did not.
Although they were not on duty at the time, Mr Radclyffe felt under peer pressure to do so and made the jump. However, he landed in the shallow water on his knees and was left disabled.
He had to use a wheelchair for several months and still needs crutches.
An appeal court judge this week ruled that the leap was "not solely his own freely made decision" and ruled that he should receive compensation.
This is likely to run into millions of pounds and Mr Radclyffe is also to receive a £200,000 advance damages payment from the Ministry of Defence.
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, established in 2005, provides compensation for all injuries, ill health and deaths that occur mostly during service.
Tags: Appeal Court, Armed Forces, Bravery, Compensation Scheme, Court Judge, Crutches, Damages, Deaths, Ill Health, Irish Guards, Knees, Leap, Ministry Of Defence, Peer Pressure, Radclyffe, Salisbury Journal, Shallow Water, Soldier, Wheelchair
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