Barratts Settle Long Standing Cerebral Palsy Case

Alison Brooks and Emma Veasey of Barratts Solicitors recently settled a long standing cerebral palsy case. Our client, the Claimant, suffered hypoglycaemia during the neonatal period. This led to severe brain damage.

After the Claimant’s mother was finally recommended to us, we obtained supportive evidence that the Claimant should have been delivered on an Obstetric Unit. However his mother was admitted to the GP Unit and the Claimant was delivered there instead. We also argued that had the Claimant been monitored by the Paediatric team with regular blood glucose tests, they would have shown a deterioration in his blood sugar levels. This would have alerted the medical staff to the possibility of hypoglycaemia and they could have provided treatment which would have avoided brain damage.

There were 2 Defendants, the GP and the hospital trust, who both denied liability. They argued that the claimant did not need closer monitoring and his brain damage was unavoidable.

The matter was settled at a meeting between the parties and damages were agreed in excess of £2.5 million. The settlement included both a lump sum and periodical payments to last the Claimant’s lifetime. It was approved by the High Court in London in December.

The Judge praised the Claimant’s mother and sister for the devotion and care they provided to the Claimant.