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Hospital to pay £3.9m in damages Hospital to pay £3.9m in damages
(about 3 hours later)
A couple have been awarded compensation of £3.9 million, 35 years after their baby suffered brain damage in hospital. A couple have been awarded compensation of £3.9m, 35 years after their baby suffered brain damage in hospital.
Salvatore, the son of Maria and Leo di Giorgi, of Luton, Bedfordshire, was born in April 1971.Salvatore, the son of Maria and Leo di Giorgi, of Luton, Bedfordshire, was born in April 1971.
They only found out he had brain damage when he underwent a scan after his first epileptic fit at the age of 13.They only found out he had brain damage when he underwent a scan after his first epileptic fit at the age of 13.
The High Court found the injury was caused by care he received at Luton and Dunstable Hospital following intestinal surgery four days after his birth.The High Court found the injury was caused by care he received at Luton and Dunstable Hospital following intestinal surgery four days after his birth.
They looked after him devotedly without monetary compensation Mr Justice EadyThey looked after him devotedly without monetary compensation Mr Justice Eady
A judge at the High Court in London heard the parents first went to solicitors in 1992.A judge at the High Court in London heard the parents first went to solicitors in 1992.
Mr Justice Eady gave his approval to the £3.9m on Monday to be paid in settlement of the family's damages claim against Luton and Dunstable NHS Trust.Mr Justice Eady gave his approval to the £3.9m on Monday to be paid in settlement of the family's damages claim against Luton and Dunstable NHS Trust.
He said: "This is in some ways a remarkable story with Salvatore's parents not discovering that there was a claim for more than 20 years.He said: "This is in some ways a remarkable story with Salvatore's parents not discovering that there was a claim for more than 20 years.
"Meanwhile, they looked after him devotedly without monetary compensation.""Meanwhile, they looked after him devotedly without monetary compensation."
The judge ruled that the award was "entirely appropriate" and expressed his "very best wishes to the family for the future".The judge ruled that the award was "entirely appropriate" and expressed his "very best wishes to the family for the future".
Very little EnglishVery little English
Salvatore did not receive the care he needed on the hospital's paediatric ward and he became progressively more dehydrated.Salvatore did not receive the care he needed on the hospital's paediatric ward and he became progressively more dehydrated.
When his condition became critical he was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital on May 20, 1971.When his condition became critical he was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital on May 20, 1971.
The family's counsel, Dr Simon Fox, said Salvatore survived as a result of the care he received at Great Ormond Street: "However, the thrombosis had in fact caused a significant injury to his brain."The family's counsel, Dr Simon Fox, said Salvatore survived as a result of the care he received at Great Ormond Street: "However, the thrombosis had in fact caused a significant injury to his brain."
Salvatore's young parents - his mother was only 16 - had recently emigrated from Sicily and at the time spoke very little English.Salvatore's young parents - his mother was only 16 - had recently emigrated from Sicily and at the time spoke very little English.