Cerebral Palsy caused at birth, £4 million settlement secured for child

Our client sustained a brain injury at birth, resulting in cerebral palsy and a lifelong need for specialist care. He is now 15 years old.

The injury has had a lasting impact on both our client and his family, who have spent years ensuring he can access the care, support and opportunities he needs.

Following a claim represented by Sarah Stanton, the family secured a settlement that will fund specialist therapies, adapted accommodation, educational support and ongoing care throughout his life.

The outcome provides long-term financial security and helps ensure our client has access to the support he needs both now and in the future.

Shortly before our client’s due date, his parents attended hospital after becoming concerned about reduced foetal movements, a recognised sign that a baby may be in distress.

Despite raising concerns, they were sent home on two separate occasions. The first time, a midwife dismissed their worries without conducting any investigations. On their second visit, the labour ward again failed to act. It was only after encountering a doctor, outside of the formal assessment process, that they were advised to return and insist on being seen.

When our client’s parents returned to hospital, a cardiotocograph (CTG) trace was finally performed.

The trace revealed a sudden and severe drop in the baby’s heart rate and an emergency caesarean section was carried out.

However, by this stage, our client had already suffered a brain injury that resulted in permanent disability.

The claim centred on whether earlier investigation and intervention could have prevented the injury.

Although failings in care were admitted at an early stage, the case remained complex because there were disagreements about exactly what happened during the family’s visits to hospital and whether the injury could have been prevented.

A significant part of the claim focused on expert analysis of what the CTG trace might have shown if monitoring had been carried out earlier. Medical experts held differing views about whether earlier intervention would have altered the outcome.

These unresolved evidential issues made the case particularly challenging to navigate. The family also faced the emotional burden of reliving the events surrounding their son’s birth, while trying to secure the support he would need for the rest of his life.

The case ultimately settled for more than £4 million shortly before trial. The settlement will help provide lifelong care, specialist equipment, adapted accommodation, therapies and educational support for our client. Most importantly, it gives the family reassurance that appropriate support will be available throughout his life, helping them plan for the future with greater certainty.

A comment from their solicitor

“This was a hard-fought and emotionally challenging case. Achieving this outcome was incredibly rewarding and will make a real difference to the family’s life.”

Sarah Stanton