Personal injury news

Woman wins compensation claim after hospital blunder

The mother of a baby that was left with severe disabilities after medical malpractice at the birth more than 30 years ago is celebrating being awarded £5million after a seven-year compensation claim.

Zoe Blair, now 32, was starved of oxygen in the womb just before she was delivered at South Tyneside Hospital in February 1974. As a result, she was left with severe cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair, only able to communicate with head movements.

Her mother, Jean Blair, made the compensation claim against the Gateshead and South Tyneside Healthcare NHS Trust, which was responsible for the running of the hospital at the time of the incident.

A spokesman apologised for the blunder, saying, "We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the apologies made previously to the Blair family and wish them well for the future."

Using the money won in the compensation claim, Zoe and her family have now moved from Newcastle to a specially-adapted million-pound home in Essex. The £5million will be paid to the family in a lump sum of £2.9million plus several periodical payments over the coming years.

Their personal injury solicitor, Simeon Maskrey, welcomed the compensation claim award but said, "She will never be independent and will require care and support for the rest of her life."