The family home will often be the most important matrimonial asset during any divorce case, and a...
A 12-year-old girl whose childhood was blighted by frequent operations and constant pain after she was born with a dislocated hip – a condition which her lawyers claimed could have been effectively treated had it been diagnosed early enough – has secured £120,000 in damages from the NHS.
The girl was born with a fairly common condition known as developmental dysplasia of the hip, which can be corrected with relative ease and without the need for surgical intervention if it is identified soon after birth, when a child's bones are malleable. Her lawyers claimed that hospital staff had negligently delayed in arranging a follow-up appointment, which had resulted in a critical three-month delay in diagnosis.
As a result, the girl has had to undergo multiple operations and is likely to require a hip replacement by the age of about 40. Because of her condition, she is unable to enjoy active pastimes with her siblings.
The NHS trust with responsibility for the hospital where the girl was born disputed liability for her injuries but, following negotiations, agreed to settle her claim out of court.