Our expert solicitors won a seven-figure settlement for a 10-year-old girl left disabled following a birth injury.

The money will allow her to access the lifetime care and support she requires.

Sarah*, the child, suffered nerve damage during her birth at Mayday Hospital, now Croydon University Hospital, in 2010.

While she has undergone a range of treatment since then, she was diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy.

Sarah has little movement in her wrist, as well as limited abilities and a minimal grip with her left hand. She has become relatively independent in tasks like dressing, but requires support with other issues, including washing, cutting up food and carrying things.

Sarah’s mother contacted our medical negligence lawyers to investigate her birth. Louise Forsyth, a senior associate in our London office, took on their case.

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, admitted liability for her injuries.

Our lawyers successfully negotiated a £1.21 million settlement to fund Sarah’s care needs. The High Court approved the settlement.

The girl’s mother said: “It was devastating to discover what had happened to my daughter, but she has done so well with coming to terms with her condition and not allowing it to define her in any way.

“The whole family is so proud of what she is achieving every day and this settlement gives us some important peace of mind that her needs will always be met. We are all now looking to the future more positively, but also hope that lessons will be learned from what she has been through.”

Medical negligence expert Louise said: “Sadly this is a case which puts a spotlight on the significant consequences that very serious birth injuries can have, with the issues our client has suffered expected to affect her for the rest of her life.

“However, we hope that this settlement will provide some comfort and reassurance that she’ll always be able to access any care or support that she may require.

“Our client has shown incredible resilience and determination to ensure her injuries don’t stop her from getting the best from life. We hope these funds help her continue to ensure that’s the case.

“We’d also urge that the NHS and other healthcare providers continue to learn lessons from cases like this, and work to ensure that every effort is made to prevent them from being repeated in the future.”

We’re here to help any family who’s experienced hospital failings during a birth. If you need to speak to an expert, please call 0370 1500 100 or contact us online.

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