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| Mother asked to pay back £375,000 compensation after son dies | Mother asked to pay back £375,000 compensation after son dies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A mother says she is "devastated" at having to sell her home to pay back compensation she was given to care for her disabled son, who has since died. | A mother says she is "devastated" at having to sell her home to pay back compensation she was given to care for her disabled son, who has since died. |
| Deborah Mackay, 33, was awarded £705,000 after doctors failed to spot her unborn son Calum had spina bifida. | Deborah Mackay, 33, was awarded £705,000 after doctors failed to spot her unborn son Calum had spina bifida. |
| The NHS Litigation Authority now wants £375,000 returned as the money was to care for Calum until he was 10. He died at the age of six. | |
| It said it had a "responsibility to manage the public purse". | It said it had a "responsibility to manage the public purse". |
| Ms Mackay, who lives in Clapham, near Bedford, said she was "devastated but had learned to accept" the decision to recall the money but feared she would be left without a home. | Ms Mackay, who lives in Clapham, near Bedford, said she was "devastated but had learned to accept" the decision to recall the money but feared she would be left without a home. |
| "Because the house isn't selling I could end up homeless," she said. | "Because the house isn't selling I could end up homeless," she said. |
| 'Beautiful memories' | |
| Ms Mackay spent £450,000 on the property and fitted it with items to help care for her son. | Ms Mackay spent £450,000 on the property and fitted it with items to help care for her son. |
| She said Calum, who was born in 2005 and died of organ failure two years ago, "loved" the house. | She said Calum, who was born in 2005 and died of organ failure two years ago, "loved" the house. |
| "He was amazing, an inspiration, so strong and full of life," she said. | "He was amazing, an inspiration, so strong and full of life," she said. |
| "I've got so many beautiful memories here with him. | "I've got so many beautiful memories here with him. |
| "I understand why I have to give the money back - it's just that I could have no home to go to." | "I understand why I have to give the money back - it's just that I could have no home to go to." |
| The NHS Litigation Authority, which is handling the case for Bedford Hospital NHS Trust, said it appreciated it was a "very difficult time" for Ms Mackay. | |
| A spokesperson said: "There are no plans currently to force a sale of this property, which is owned by trustees, one of whom is Ms Mackay. | |
| "We are working to agree a reasonable period of time for her to make appropriate arrangements to return the money." |