Girl born severely disabled wins £5million for compensation and care package

The youngster was left facing a lifetime of disability after her brain was starved of oxygen in the moments leading up to her birth in 2009. She will be confined to a wheelchair for life and suffers additional problems with movement and communication.

Her family accused medics of failing her in the way her heart rate was monitored while still in the womb and said it was “negligent”.

The damages claim was due to reach court today in a trial against the NHS trust which runs the hospital. But after late negotiations, the family and NHS agreed to settle the case.

The deal, approved by a judge today, will see her receive £5.3million up front, with annual payments to cover the cost of her care for the rest of her life. The NHS will pay millions more over the coming years. The girl will receive inflation-linked annual periodical payments, starting at £80,000-a-year and rising to £175,000 from the age of 18.

The money is intended to be used to cover the huge cost of providing specialist care to a seriously disabled person. Approving the agreement, Mr Justice Morris said it was best to settle the case, as she might have received nothing if she lost the trial.

He said: “I am satisfied that the proposed figures represent a reasonable settlement of this claim, which it is in her best interests to accept.”

He said that, despite her disabilities, the girl, who was in court with her family, had done well in life so far.

The NHS Trust had denied liability, but agreed to settle the case in the light of litigation risks

A spokesman for Basildon Hospital said: “P was born at Basildon Hospital and was transferred to the neonatal unit shortly after her birth. She suffered permanent neurological damage.

“P brought a claim against the Trust. Investigations into liability led to a compromise being agreed between the parties.

“Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust wish P and her family well for the future.”