The family of a six-year-old boy left paralysed after he suffered brain damage at birth have today (21st April) been awarded £1.5million damages from an NHS trust.
The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust agreed to pay the damages at London’s High Court, but denied liability for what happened to him.
The young boy cannot be named for legal reasons however Mr Justice Spencer, who approved the settlement, was told he suffers from cerebral palsy and developed quadriplegia.
He was born in March 2009 at Pembury hospital. The trust then opened its new Tunbridge Wells hospital at Pembury close by in September 2010.
The court heard that he relies on constant care and support after he was born “in very poor condition” but has the love and support of his parents.
“This little boy is very fortunate in his family’s devotion and the hard work they have put in,” said their counsel, Sarah Vaughan Jones QC.
In approving the settlement, the judge said the decision was in the “best interests” of the “delightful” little boy. He paid tribute also to the “devotion and loving care” of his parents.
Celebral palsy is a brain injury caused by a baby suffering a lack of oxygen for a length of time during delivery. The condition affects the body’s movements and can sometimes be triggered by mismanagement of medical professionals. You can read more about the condition here.