Compensation has been obtained for a baby girl who developed bacterial meningitis in hospital when she was four months old.
She had undergone a biopsy which led to bacteria in her bloodstream, and developed bacterial meningitis after the infection was inadequately treated. She was left with cognitive difficulties and acquired learning difficulties, as well as headaches and various physical issues.
A claim was brought against the NHS trust responsible for her care, which admitted breaching its duty of care to her but disputed the extent of those breaches and the impact they had had on her. A wealth of medical evidence was obtained in support of her claim, demonstrating a link between bacterial meningitis and cognitive and learning difficulties.
At a settlement meeting, the NHS trust accepted that she had developed bacterial meningitis as a result of its negligence and that that had caused or materially contributed to some of her disabilities. Further negotiations led to her claim being settled for a lump sum of £2.5 million, together with lifetime periodical payments.