Boy who suffered stroke in the womb at Shropshire hospital to get payout
A six-year-old boy who suffered a stroke before he was even born at a Shropshire hospital is in line for an NHS compensation payout.
He was affected by a “foetal stroke” while his mother was in labour at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 2012.
Mrs Justice Cutts told London’s High Court that, as a result, he was ‘regrettably born with a brain injury’.
Lawyers for the boy sued the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, for damages.
They blamed delays in his delivery and failings in care during his mother’s labour caused injuries which left him disabled for life.
The NHS trust denies liability and said the ‘standard of care provided throughout was of a reasonable standard’, the court heard.
But it yesterday agreed to pay the boy 55 per cent of the full value of his claim in order to settle his case.
John Whitting QC, for the trust, confirmed that ‘there was no admission of liability in this case’.
But he said he was pleased an agreement had been reached, doing away with the need for a traumatic clinical negligence trial.
The amount of the boy’s payout will be assessed later, but is bound to be a very substantial sum.
“I consider this an appropriate settlement in the best interests of the boy,” said Mrs Justice Cutts.
She told the family: “I wish you well for the future.”
A spokesman for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said: “While money can never undo what has happened, it is hoped that the package agreed will give some reassurance to the family that their son’s needs will be met in the future.
“Any harm to a baby is a cause for distress to a, family and all the staff involved in his or her care, and that is as true now as it was six years ago.”
