A young woman with severe
cerebral palsy has been awarded £4 million in compensation
after taking an NHS trust to court over the management of her
birth.
Relatives of 18-year-old woman, who cannot be named, sued
Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust after she was
left needing full-time care for life.
Family counsel Margaret Bowron QC told High Court judge Mr
Justice Kenneth Parker she was has had "terribly serious
disabilities", including learning difficulties, a lack of
meaningful speech and wheelchair reliance, since being born at
Rochford Hospital, Essex, in September 1992.
Ms Bowron made special mention of the "extraordinary efforts" of
the teenager's mother, who devoted her life to bringing up her
daughter, supported by her elder son.
"She is now welcoming assistance and has found a house to move
into, so we are hoping that within a few months they will have a
new home, a care package in place and the future will be as rosy as
it can be in these difficult circumstances," she said.
The judge approved the "fair and reasonable" agreed settlement
between the family and NHS trust, which involves a £1.6 million
lump sum and yearly payments starting at £140,000 and rising to
£175,000.