Parents of man left severely disabled after birth wins £9million

Parents of a man left severely disabled at birth after a doctor's blunder have now won a £9million payout 20 years on.

The 20-year-old man, protected by an anonymity order, suffers from multiple conditions including mixed dyskinetic cerebal palsy and learning difficulties.

It comes after his mother was admitted into a hospital in Preston, Lancashire in 2004 which is now closed after she had problems with her blood pressure.

Doctors chose not to act on the warning signs that the baby was at risk - though if they had delivered him six days previously then all his injuries would have been avoided.

The compensation claim was approved at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday with the money being owed by Lancashire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Difficulties with breathing and liver problems are said to have contributed to the global developmental delay suffered by the man who requires 24 hour care and regular therapies.

The man's mother says she has been unable to work because of her 'son's extensive care needs' but that it is an 'enormous relief to finally have the compensation needed to make sure that he has the right level of care for the rest of his life'.

She added: 'I was repeatedly reassured that I did not have to worry.

'But this has changed the entire course of our lives.

'It makes me so angry to know that had my concerns been taken seriously.

'My son would have been born a perfectly healthy little boy and our lives would be like any other family's.

'We have had to fight for our son's rights for so many years.'

The mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the pregnancy went well until she was around 30 weeks, when her blood pressure was fluctuating and she noticed reduced movement.

She reported this to the hospital but started suffering from mild headaches six weeks later.

Her blood pressure remained high and the baby's movements had decreased but she was reassured and admitted into Sharoe Green Lane Hospital.

The baby's heartbeat and uterine contractions were monitored and abnormal results were found, but the hospital didn't act on this.

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She was then re-admitted to the hospital after she only experienced one movement in 24 hours and he was delivered by emergency c-section a few hours later.

The mum said: 'I still feel deeply upset that I was repeatedly reassured that my concerns were nothing to worry about.

'I knew after the first 30 weeks that something was wrong.

'I was unable to return to work because my son has complex needs.

'My husband was also encouraged to take redundancy due to how much time he had to take off to attend my son's hospital and care appointments.'

The man's mother, who has another child, has been unable to work because of her 'son's extensive care needs.'

She said the payout was 'an enormous relief' as the man is predicted to live until 70 which means he can have the 'right level of care for the rest of his life'.

The mother added: 'Neither of us have been able to work as a result of our son's extensive care needs.

'It is predicted that he will live until the age of 70.

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'It is an enormous relief to finally have the compensation needed to make sure that he has the right level of care for the rest of his life.'

Birth injuries solicitor Diane Rostron, who represented the family, said: 'This was the family's first child, and the pregnancy developed well for the first 30 weeks.

'At this point our client's blood pressure was fluctuating and she had noticed that the baby's movements had reduced, and she reported this to the hospital.

'Her concerns were met with reassurance and advice that she would be monitored.

'Her blood pressure continued to be high, and she started suffering with mild headaches 36 weeks into the pregnancy.

'Two weeks later, her blood pressure remained high, and the baby's movements had decreased.

'These were red flags demonstrating that something was seriously wrong however, she was reassured and advised not to worry.'

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been contacted for a comment.

A £9.08 million compensation claim is due.