Brain injured girl awarded £7 million compensation

Peterborough City Hospital have been ordered to pay £7 million compensation to a seven year-old girl who suffered catastrophic brain injuries during birth.

The little girl, who cannot be identified, was starved of oxygen during her 2011 delivery and needs a team of two carers to look after her, 24 hours a day, her barrister, Henry Witcomb QC, told the High Court in London.

The QC said the girl was “amongst the most disabled children” he had ever come across in his professional life representing injured youngsters. Her intellect is profoundly impaired; she can barely see, is unable to speak and has to be fed through a tube, the court heard. She also suffers from epilepsy and osteoporisis, so that her bones can easily break under pressure. She cannot move even to lift her own head, said Mr Witcomb.

The money will be paid with a lump sum of £1.6 million, followed by monthly payments for the rest of the girl’s life.

Approving the settlement, Judge Hugh Mercer QC emphasised that every penny will be needed for the little girl’s care and that it was nothing like a lottery win.

Dr Kanchan Rege, Medical Director at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Peterborough City Hospital, said: “The events that occurred during the delivery of this child were thoroughly investigated at the time and lessons have been learned from the mistakes that were made.

“We would once again like to express our apologies and send our very best wishes to the child and her family.”