Press
Multi Million Payout secured by Park Woodfine Heald Mellows - 21st March 2011
Ian Pears, a partner in the Clinical Negligence department at Park Woodfine Heald Mellows LLP successfully handled the case of a local girl, Lucie Ross, who was born barely alive at Bedford Hospital 12 years ago. Last week a settlement was agreed and Lucie won the right to a multi-million pound NHS compensation payout as a result of facing a lifetime of acute disability. Although the amount of Lucie’s damages has yet to be assessed the extent of her disabilities and need for lifelong care means her payout is likely to be a high seven-figure sum.
At the hearing it was claimed that a doctor’s difficulty in getting through a maternity ward security door as vital seconds ticked away may have contributed to the tragedy that blighted her birth. The Barrister for Lucie said that the oxygen supply to Lucie’s brain was almost entirely cut off in the 15 minutes or so before her delivery, with ‘acute profound asphyxia’ being the result.
Approving the settlement, Judge Peter Ralls QC told Lucie’s parents: “you have my sympathy. I am sure this has been a long and painful road to tread, but I hope that you can now draw a line under this and get on with caring for your daughter”.
For more information about Clinical Negligence claims, see our website or contact Ian Pears.
