statement from Blake Lapthorn regarding successful
clinical negligence claim valued at more than £8
million
Blake Lapthorn reports that a boy from Watford
who suffered brain damage at birth eight years ago has settled a
medical negligence claim for just over £8.26 million.
Tristian Blomfield was at the High Court in
London with his mother, Natalie, to hear the Judge give approval to
an agreement that he should receive a lump sum of £2,237,500 and
annual payments £42,000 to age 19 then £105,000 each year for the
rest of his life.
Tristian was born at Watford General Hospital
in May 2000.
His claim against the West Hertfordshire NHS
Trust was that he suffered a brain injury as a consequence of
failure of an anaesthetist to appropriately site a total spinal
anaesthetic block which occurred when an epidural injection was
wrongly administered.
Tristian's mother, Natalie, suffered a
respiratory arrest and subsequent brain injury for which she
received compensation in 2004.
Tristian suffered permanent brain damage as a
result of his mother's collapse. He suffers from cerebral
palsy in all four limbs with tremor and poor motor control.
His needs will only be met by a carer being present during his
waking hours and someone who can be summoned at night if
required.
Tristian's mother suffers from short-term
memory problems as a result of the hospital's negligence and the
award will provide care for the remainder of Tristian's life.
Despite his disabilities, Tristian is a
delightful and determined boy, thanks to the care and support given
by his mother.
After the hearing, his solicitor, Sue Jarvis,
a clinical negligence partner at Blake Lapthorn said: "This is an
excellent settlement for Tristian because not only will he and his
family have the reassurance of annual payments to pay for care for
the rest of his life, but he also has a lump sum to enable him to
purchase a property and to pay for much needed speech and language
therapy, physiotherapy, aids and equipment.
"Tristian has a reasonable life expectancy and
his mother who has provided loving care over his lifetime can now
be confident that his needs will be met once she is no longer there
to care for him."
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Contact:
Daniel Baber, Public Relations Manager
T - 020 7814 5489
E - daniel.baber@bllaw.co.uk