£4.5million awarded to 10-year-old girl who suffered ‘catastrophic’ brain injury at birth

Samantha Singleton-Parkes suffered the injuries soon after birth because of mistakes in her care

A 10-year-old girl is to receive a 4.5million compensation payout after she suffered a catastrophic brain injury shortly after she was born

The damages, made up of a lump sum and annual payments, will provide a more secure financial future for Samantha Singleton-Parkes, who has cerebral palsy, and comfort and reassurance for her mother Gail, London's High Court heard today.

The settlement against Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust in Essex was approved by Judge Birtles, who was told by David Pittaway QC that Samantha's family had played a fantastic part in bringing her up.

Solicitor Julian Wilson, of law firm Thompson Smith and Puxon, said later: "In the vast majority of cases medical treatment in this country is carried out very competently.

"However, in Samantha's case, mistakes were made following her birth which led to a catastrophic brain injury.

"Samantha's mother's main concern in this litigation has always been to secure Samantha's future, and this settlement achieves that."

The hospital trust denied liability for negligence but agreed to pay 70 per cent of the damages that Mrs Singleton-Parkes was claiming in the High Court.

Mrs Singleton-Parkes, of Brightlingsea, Essex, said: "I am pleased and relieved that we have finally reached a conclusion.

"Pursuing this claim on Samantha's behalf has taken years of our lives and has had a profound effect on our family. Although it happened a long time ago and has taken some time to resolve, it is still very raw.

See the original post here:
£4.5million awarded to 10-year-old girl who suffered 'catastrophic' brain injury at birth