Family get damages for GP failure

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The family of a BBC documentary maker who died of a heart attack in 2004 is set to receive damages after three GPs admitted failure to diagnose.

Nick Rossiter died following a cardiac arrest at the age of 43 in July 2004.

Three GPs from the Westbourne Grove Surgery in west London admitted in the High Court of failing to diagnose and treat Mr Rossiter's hypertension.

Mr Rossiter could have survived if his condition had been treated from December 2003, the court heard.

No amount of money can replace my children's father, but it will help in securing their future Beatrice Ballard

GPs Dr Pearl Chin, Dr Cathy Benson and Dr Sharon Alikhani said they failed to treat Mr Rossiter's ailment.

The amount of the settlement awarded to Mr Rossiter's widow Beatrice Ballard and their two daughters was not disclosed at the hearing on Wednesday.

Mrs Ballard, who was present at the hearing, said: "No amount of money can replace my children's father, but it will help in securing their future."

John Pickering the lawyer representing the family, said: "The end of this case comes as a huge relief to Nicholas's wife and will provide a secure future for their daughters Alice and Pandora.

"Doctors Chin, Benson and Alikhani failed to establish and enforce a system of monitoring Nicholas' blood pressure and did not treat him with anti-hypertensive medication as they should have done."

Mr Rossiter joined the BBC in 1986 and had worked on Newsnight, Heart of the Matter, Out of Court and Look North in Newcastle.