Disabled boy wins clinical negligence claim

November 9th, 2009

Disabled boy wins clinical negligence claim

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.
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Girl wins medical negligence claim for brain damage

November 6th, 2009

Girl wins medical negligence claim for brain damage

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.

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Sports centre worker wins £50k after back injury

August 26th, 2009

Sports centre worker wins 㿞k after back injury

A man who had worked at a sports centre for 20 years has been awarded £50,000 in compensation for a back injury that could have been prevented.

David Barber, 62, hurt himself lifting some faulty swimming pool steps without assistance in February 2004, Adeceder reports.

However, when he returned to Haywood Sports Centre in Rochdale four months later, he was ordered to carry out lifeguard training which aggravated the injury.

The damage was such that Mr Barber now has to take regular epidural injections and painkillers in order to get through the day .

He decided to sue Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council for compensation.

"The worst thing about the injury has been going from being hugely active to unable to do the gardening, or drive, or travel easily – it’s that loss of independence," he commented.

The council has now agreed to settle the case out of court, although it did not admit liability.

Earlier this month, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council worker Kay Fagg was awarded £10,000 in compensation after a broken chair caused her to slip a disc in her back.

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Autistic child ‘locked in toilet’ wins compensation

June 30th, 2009

Autistic child locked in toilet wins compensation

An autistic child who alleges that he was locked in a toilet by his carer has secured compensation.

Alex Berry, now 15, was left in the care of Siobhan Quinn in May 2005 as usual. She looked after the youngster in her own home in Dublin.

However, it is claimed that on this occasion, she left the house and secured 11-year-old Alex in a downstairs toilet while she was away.

Alex suffers from severe autism and cannot be left alone. His father Peter alleges that he arrived at Ms Quinn’s house to find her unlocking the toilet and letting Alex – who was in a distressed state – out.

With the assistance of his family, Alex took legal action against Ms Quinn, as well as Northside Home Care Services (her employer) and the Health Service Executive.

Mr Justice John Quirke ruled Ms Quinn’s behaviour to be "scandalous" and "dreadful".

Although the parties being sued did not admit liability for their negligence, it was agreed that Alex should receive a payout of £42,300 to cover the pain and suffering he was caused.

According to the National Autistic Society, over half a million people in the UK have autism, a figure which equates to around one in 100 people.

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Police officer wins right to claim compensation

May 29th, 2009

Police officer wins right to claim compensation

A police officer who was responsible for training Iraqi men in Basra has won the right to claim compensation after he hit his head in a police academy.

Robert McNeill was taking a training exercise when he ran into an air conditioning unit that was suspended from the ceiling, causing severe lacerations, Peterborough Today reports.

He claimed that the injury had caused him to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that he has been unable to work since because of depression.

In a new development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has admitted 60 per cent liability for Mr McNeill’s injuries, allowing him to claim compensation.

The victim is seeking up to £700,000 in damages for lost earnings and the pain he was caused, although the final amount is to be decided at a later date.

According to PTSD.net, people with the disorder may find it difficult to handle the stress of seeking compensation and so should seek the advice of a specialist solicitor.
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