Funds Will Pay For Specialist Care And Therapies Child Now Needs For Rest Of His Life

A boy, who suffered a serious brain injury causing cerebral palsy following errors during his birth, has received a multi-million pound settlement which will provide him with the specialist care he needs for the rest of his life.

The boy was starved of oxygen for around 20 minutes during his birth at Walsall Manor Hospital. 

His condition means the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is reliant on a wheelchair and cannot speak.

Following his diagnosis his parents instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate.

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust admitted liability.  The Trust agreed to a settlement of a capitalised sum in excess of £12 million.

The money will fund the specialist care and therapies the boy, who is now a teenager, needs for the rest of his life as well as compensate for the fact he will not be able to work.

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The family has already received some interim payments which has allowed the boy to move into a specially adapted home.

The settlement has been approved today in the High Court.

Expert Opinion

“While we are pleased with the outcome of today’s hearing, no amount of money can ever make up for the severe and lifelong injuries he has suffered.

"The family would rather not be in this situation at all but the settlement will now fund our client’s care for the rest of his life." Sara Burns - Partner

Rosalie Reading, senior associate and expert medical negligence lawyer also represented the boy.

Expert Opinion

"We call on the Hospital Trust to ensure it learns lessons from the mistakes that were made in this case in order to improve patient safety in the future.” Rosalie Reading - Senior Associate Solicitor

The boy’s parents said: “Our son is a happy and sociable boy who doesn’t let his condition define him.

“While the last few years have been extremely hard for us all as a family, we try to lead as normal a life as possible and do the things any family would enjoy.

“While nothing can make up for what has happened, our family is relieved that our son is now guaranteed to receive the lifetime of care he so desperately needs. It gives us the peace of mind that he will receive the help he needs to live with his disabilities.

“We just hope that no other family has to go through the suffering we have been through.”