BOY’S £1.6m PAYOUT FOR BIRTH INJURY

AFAMILY have been given £1.6m in compensation after a baby boy was left severely disabled following failings during his birth.

The boy was injured when staff at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff decided to progress with a natural delivery rather than a caesarean when he became distressed in labour.

Following a number of tests the boy was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, a type of paralysis caused when nerves in the arm become damaged.

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board admitted liability for the boy’s injuries and his family has now received a £1.6m settlement which has been approved by the High Court.

It is thought to be the highest recorded settlement in the UK for this type of case.

The money will fund the specialist therapies and support that the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will require for the rest of his life.

The boy’s parents said: “Our son has shown incredible courage throughout his life. He is the most wonderful son we could have wished for. We are incredibly proud of everything he has been able to achieve so far often in the face of adversity.

“While nothing will ever change what we have all been through, this settlement at least means we can rest assured that he will always be supported and hopefully be able to get the best from life for many years to come.”

“It remains difficult to think about how things could have been different if we had received better support. Our only hope now is that lessons have been learned so no one else faces the same issues. Patient safety must always come first.”

The youngster was seriously injured during his birth at the University Hospital of Wales in 2011. As well as his arm injury he also suffered swelling to his eye and face. As this healed it was also confirmed that he had Horner’s syndrome which can cause a lazy eye.

His mum instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his care under Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

As part of its case the firm argued that the boy would not have been injured if he had been delivered by caesarean section. They claim the boy’s injuries were exacerbated when staff failed to properly manage the delivery when his head was delivered but one of his shoulders became stuck, called “shoulder dystocia”.

The boy has had a range of treatment and support already in his life, from physiotherapy and occupational therapy to several surgical procedures.

His family says his experiences have also affected him psychologically, as he is increasingly becoming aware of his capabilities and how they differ to his peers.

A spokesperson for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: “This very sad incident occurred in 2011 and at the time was reported and investigated in line with health board policies.

“The health board has accepted liability in this case but would welcome the opportunity to meet with the family if there are any outstanding issues that they would like to discuss.”