Musgrove hospital taunton

Musgrove Hospital to give £21.8m compensation claim

A little boy born acutely brain damaged after medics mismanaged his delivery today won a £21.8 million NHS compensation payout.

The now nine-year-old suffered “severe head trauma” during his emergency forceps delivery at Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital.

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Today at London’s High Court, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust agreed to a massive settlement of the boy’s claim.

Approving the payout, Judge Simeon Maskrey QC said: “Nobody could have done more than his mother to provide him with the quality of life he has. It is humbling for people like me to read what parents do for children as injured as this boy is.”

The boy, who suffers from cerebral palsy, developmental delay and severely restricted vision, will always need 24-hour care.

The trust admitted liability for the injuries he suffered during his “traumatic instrumental delivery”.

The compensation package takes the form of a £3.75 million lump sum, plus index-linked annual payments to cover the costs of his care for life.

They will start at £98,000 until 2028, before rising to £190,000 until 2054, and then going up again to £230,000.

The settlement has a capitalised value of £21.8 million over the boy’s lifetime.

“These periodical payments will ensure he has all the money needed for his care in the future,” said Judge Maskrey.

Angharad Hughes, the boy’s solicitor, said later: “The reality is that nothing we can do can turn back the clock and change what happened that day. No amount of money will ever be able to compensate him and his family for the sub-standard level of care he received.”

“His care needs are extremely complex, so what this settlement will do is ensure that he has the best possible quality of life.”

“This has been an enormously difficult time for the family but I hope this settlement provides financial peace of mind and the assurance that he will be looked after properly.”

A Musgrove Hospital spokesperson told us: “We want to again apologise to the family for the failings in the care provided that has caused this child’s injuries. A financial package has been agreed that will ensure he gets the care he requires during his lifetime. We wish to extend our best wishes to the boy and his family for the future.”

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