The mother of a 14-year-old boy, who suffered brain damage at birth, has finally managed to win her case against the hospital responsible.
Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust admitted that staff did not suitably deal with complications which arose during the woman’s labour.
The young boy, who was born at Royal Bournemouth Hospital in Dorset, could not breath on his own until 55 minutes after his birth.
Midwives failed to notice that the umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around his shoulders for more than 20 minutes – starving him of oxygen in the womb. Furthermore, when they realised the situation, they neglected to perform an emergency caesarean section.
When he was six months old he was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic hemiplegic athetoid cerebral palsy. His condition means that he cannot walk, talk, sit upright, eat, or drink without aid.
As well as this, he suffers muscle spasms every day – and will require care for the rest of his life.
After denying responsibility for 12 years, the Trust was finally proved accountable two years ago by the mother’s injury solicitors – who provided evidence that the midwives were liable for the boy’s health problems.
Now, after many years of pursuing the claim on her son’s behalf, the woman has been awarded £7.1m in damages. This sum should help pay for the medical care and equipment her son will require throughout his life – avoiding future financial concerns.
