Our client, William*, developed cerebral palsy after negligent treatment during his birth. Our cerebral palsy claims solicitors secured a £26 million compensation settlement for him.
What happened to William?
William, aged eight, developed cerebral palsy due to medical negligence while being born. During his labour, William’s mother was monitored by the hospital midwives, who reported his heart rate as being normal. In fact, there were signs that William was becoming distressed, and once this was noticed, there were further delays in his delivery.
William sustained a serious brain injury that affects all four of his limbs. He also has difficulty communicating and his brain injury affects his behaviour. However, William is still energetic and sociable.
How did we help?
We instructed expert specialists to investigate the care William’s mother got during labour. This investigation showed that the care was substandard.
We made a claim against the hospital Trust, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. They admitted liability and accepted that negligent delays led to William experiencing hypoxia (a lack of oxygen) during his birth, which caused his injuries.
After this admission of liability, we instructed further experts to assess William’s injuries and future care needs. They estimated the costs of meeting his needs over the course of his lifetime.
We also appointed a case manager to support William and his family. They arranged therapies and the provision of equipment he needs. This was arranged while the claim was ongoing and before settlement was achieved. This meant William gained maximum benefit from that early rehabilitation input.
How was William’s claim settled?
We were able to secure a settlement for William that amounts to approximately £26.6m over his lifetime. William received a lump sum and will also get annual payments to pay for the cost of Care and Case Management for the rest of his life.
The hospital Trust has also assured us that lessons had been learned from William’s case. Steps have been taken to re-educate the staff involved.
Expert quote
William and his family were represented by Anne Kavanagh, a Partner in our London Office. Anne was assisted by Anna Vroobel, an Associate Solicitor.
Anne said: “William’s parents have been tireless in doing everything they can to support their son’s development, and this is reflected in the brilliant progress that he has made to date. This settlement will enable William to receive the care, support, and opportunities he needs to reach his full potential throughout his lifetime.
“Now that the final settlement award has been agreed, William’s family can be assured that he has a degree of security for the future.”
Find out about making a cerebral palsy claim for compensation.
*Client’s name has been changed to protect anonymity.
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