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Boy left brain damaged at birth wins £7.1m compensation Boy left brain damaged at birth wins £7.1m compensation
(about 4 hours later)
A teenage boy who was left brain damaged at birth has been awarded £7.1m damages after a 14-year legal battle by his mother against the hospital responsible. A teenage boy who was left brain-damaged at birth has been awarded £7.1m damages after a 14-year legal battle by his mother against the hospital responsible.
Clare Scott, 36, launched legal action against the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Trust in Dorset after her son Charlie was starved of oxygen and born with a serious form of cerebral palsy that has left him unable to walk, talk, sit up, or drink without assistance. Clare Scott, 36, launched a legal action against the Royal Bournemouth hospital trust in Dorset after her son Charlie was starved of oxygen and born with a serious form of cerebral palsy that has left him unable to walk, talk, sit up or drink without assistance.
It is believed that the umbilical cord wrapped around his shoulders for more than 20 minutes in the womb before midwives noticed. It is believed that the umbilical cord was wrapped around his shoulders for more than 20 minutes in the womb before midwives noticed.
Once they spotted the problem, his mother could have been given an emergency Caesarean section. Instead Charlie was starved of oxygen and it took 55 minutes before he could breath on his own. Once they spotted the problem, his mother could have been given an emergency caesarean section. Instead Charlie was starved of oxygen and it took 55 minutes before he could breathe on his own.
He was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic hemiplegic athetoid cerebral palsy at six-months-old and will require lifelong care. He was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic hemiplegic athetoid cerebral palsy at six months and will require lifelong care.
The trust spent 12 years denying clinical negligence, then two years ago Scott's legal team proved the midwives were at fault and that Charlie's brain injury would have been avoided had she received proper care during labour.The trust spent 12 years denying clinical negligence, then two years ago Scott's legal team proved the midwives were at fault and that Charlie's brain injury would have been avoided had she received proper care during labour.
The settlement will be given in annual payouts to help Charlie for the rest of his life. The settlement will be given in annual payouts to help Charlie for the rest of his life. Scott, from Bournemouth, who has four other sons, said: "No amount of compensation makes up for the disability, but it's security. I adore Charlie but life is very hard – he needs constant care and attention."
Scott, from Bournemouth, who has four other sons, said: "No amount of compensation makes up for the disability, but it's security. I adore Charlie but life is very hard, he needs constant care and attention."
Scott, who had a normal and healthy pregnancy until she went to the Royal Bournemouth hospital in 1998 after going into labour, condemned the NHS trust for failing to admit liability sooner.Scott, who had a normal and healthy pregnancy until she went to the Royal Bournemouth hospital in 1998 after going into labour, condemned the NHS trust for failing to admit liability sooner.
"I felt angry against the hospital. If they had done their job properly we would have a normal and healthy child."I felt angry against the hospital. If they had done their job properly we would have a normal and healthy child.
"They should have admitted it a lot sooner because they had been in the wrong and not have me battling this for most of my adult life.""They should have admitted it a lot sooner because they had been in the wrong and not have me battling this for most of my adult life."
"They had procedures in place for emergencies but basically none of it ever happened.""They had procedures in place for emergencies but basically none of it ever happened."
Paula Shobbrook, director of nursing and midwifery at the Royal Bournemouth hospital, said: "We apologise sincerely to Charles and his family for his injuries and provide him with some security and the care he requires for the future." Paula Shobbrook, director of nursing and midwifery at the Royal Bournemouth hospital, said: "We apologise sincerely to Charles and his family for his injuries and [this money should] provide him with some security and the care he requires for the future."