The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is to pay out £6m after a baby was suffocated by a drug given during his mother's labour.

The trust is to pay an annual amount of £100,000, rising to £185,000 when he reaches the age of 18, after the trust was taken to court by the boy's parents.  In March of this year the NHS trust finally admitted full responsibility for the error that occurred when a drug was administered which caused the womb to asphyxiate the baby. Now aged eight, he developed cerebral palsy and severe disabilities and needs 24-hour care.

The child's father, who doesn't want the family identified, said that his son's intellectual function and use of all four limbs has been badly affected as a result. He said that the financial award means that his son has some assurance for his long-term care.

Lynn Wissett, deputy chief executive of the NHS trust, said that the trust was pleased that settlement had been reached. She added: "Maternity care has changed significantly, both locally and nationally, in the nine years since this child was born. Action was quickly taken following Child A's birth to address the particular issues identified."

Contact us today if you believe one of your family is paying for care when they shouldn't be. We may be able to help claim back care home fees paid by that person when it should have been free.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1337112/Health-trust-hands-6m-boy-8-left-cerebral-palsy-birth-suffocation.html