£4.75mn for disability at birth

A boy who was left severely disabled at birth has been awarded more than £4.75mn in compensation. The 12-year-old boy has cerebral palsy and is wholly dependent on a wheelchair and unable to speak. The hospital had advised a home birth, but had not noticed that his mother became diabetic during pregnancy. He became stuck during delivery and was deprived of oxygen. No specialist equipment was available to resuscitate him as it was a home birth. The hospital did not accept full liability for the injuries to the boy, but accepted there were “shortcomings in the management of care which was given.” Liability was established and a compensation package was agreed.