£10.8m Compensation after Serious Injury at Birth
A girl, who suffered serious injury at birth, has been awarded compensation worth £10.8m at the High Court in London.
Milly Evans was born at Lincoln County Hospital in March 2001. After her birth, Milly had to be resuscitated and suffered a seizure. She suffered catastrophic injuries in the birth, and now suffers from cerebral palsy.
Milly’s cerebral palsy means that she requires round-the-clock care. She is confined to a wheelchair and is unable to speak. However, Milly is able to communicate by using eye-gaze equipment.
Her family sought compensation from United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust, blaming Milly’s injuries on mistakes made by medical staff. Her team argued that had Milly’s heart been monitored properly, then the signs of foetal distress could have been spotted sooner, leading to an earlier and injury free delivery.
The NHS Trust apologised to the family, and admitted that procedures had changed since Milly’s birth. The BBC reports that a compensation settlement has just been agreed at the High Court in London. This will consist of a lump-sum payment of £5,866,000, coupled with lifetime annual payments that will rise to £204,000.
The compensation will pay for Milly’s care and needs, including specially adapted accommodation.
The judge at the High Court praised Milly’s parents, including her father, who gave up his career in the RAF to look after Milly.
