£9 million NHS compensation for Preston birth injury twenty years ago
A £9.08 million compensation claim has been approved by the court for a twenty year old man catastrophically injured at now closed Sharoe Green Lane Hospital, in Preston, in 2004.
Approved at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on 27th November, the claim will cover the cost of his 24 hour care needs, specialist therapies and equipment for the rest of his life.
Expected to live to aged 70, the man is protected by an anonymity order as he lacks mental capacity as a result of his preventable brain damage.
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Representing the family, Blackpool based birth injury solicitor Diane Rostron said: “This was our client’s first child, and the pregnancy was going well for the first 30 weeks. Things changed at this point and our client reported to the hospital that the baby’s movements had reduced.
“Tests found that her blood pressure was fluctuating, but a locum doctor reassured her that she would be monitored and not to worry. Her blood pressure was subsequently high for the remaining weeks of the pregnancy, but the hospital continued to provide reassurances.
“At 38 weeks into the pregnancy our client was admitted into Sharoe Green Lane Hospital with high blood pressure. A CTG found abnormal results, however, she was advised that she could go home.
“One week later, our client was back at the hospital as she had only felt one baby movement over a 24 hour period. It was decided that an emergency c-section would be provided, but this did not occur until several hours later.”
The baby had suffered oxygen deprivation causing permanent brain damage and was born in a very poor state. He had breathing difficulties, and blood and liver problems at birth. As a result of this catastrophic incident, he has cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs, global developmental delay and learning disabilities.
“Had the hospital appropriately reacted to multiple red flags that the pregnancy was not progressing well, he would have been delivered earlier. Had the hospital delivered him just six days sooner, rather than discharging our client, he would have avoided all injury and would now be living as any other normal young adult.”
I knew something was very wrong and expressed my concerns to the hospital on multiple occasions. We have been devastated by this incident and my husband and I remain very angry in the knowledge that our son’s catastrophic injuries were entirely preventable.
She added: “We have both been unable to return to work in order to meet our son’s complex 24 hour care needs. This was our first child, and we should now be living like any other family, but this has been taken from us.
“The compensation has given us peace of mind that our son will be looked after long after we are able to provide for his care. He needs regular physio, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.
“The hospital should have listened to my concerns and paid careful attention to all the red flags. My son’s movements noticeably reduced after the first 30 weeks. I also shared with the hospital that my bump wasn’t growing very much after this point. My blood pressure was dangerously high. You trust that the medical staff know what they are doing, but we have been very badly let down.”
The family had a healthy second child several years after this incident. Their legal case was originally with another law firm for six years before the claim was dropped.
For more information about the team of birth injury solicitors at Diane Rostron visit dianerostron.co.uk
The NHS Trust has been approached for comment.