Edwina Rawson recovered
compensation for Christopher 20 years after he suffered injuries
following a community midwife’s delay in diagnosing
meningitis.
Christopher was born in 1983, at Warneford Maternity Hospital, a
normal healthy baby. Shortly after discharge from hospital, he was
seen by a community midwife at home.
Our case was that the community midwife failed to recognise that
Christopher was showing symptoms of a serious illness and needed
urgent medical treatment.
No further action was taken, and there was apparently no cause
for concern.
In the early hours of the following morning, 3 September 1983,
Christopher deteriorated. He was taken to the A&E department at
Stratford upon Avon Hospital, and referred immediately to Warwick
General Hospital.
Christopher was diagnosed as suffering meningitis and
treatment was provided urgently.
Unfortunately, as a result of the meningitis, Christopher
developed hydrocephalus, poorly controlled epilepsy and permanent
frontal brain damage, which has resulted in learning difficulties
and poorly controlled epilepsy.
Christopher is able to carry out many daily activities, but
can struggle with organising even simple things. If the
correct diagnosis had been made earlier, he would have been treated
sooner and had a much better outcome.
We took Christopher’s case on after he had been with other
solicitors for about 4 years, and a huge amount of work had to be
done very quickly.
In addition, the case was difficult because the treatment in
question happened over 20 years earlier, and there were no medical
notes of the community midwife’s visit. The case had to be based
upon the medical records upon admission to Warwick General
Hospital, and Christopher’s parents’ memory.
Despite the difficulties, a settlement of £2 million was
reached. The money will enable Christopher to have much more
independence, assistance, and chance to enjoy life than he would
have had otherwise.