The parents of a baby who suffered severe brain damage due to an NHS error have been awarded £35 million in compensation.
The child, now 11, developed sepsis and meningitis after medical staff at Great Western Hospital NHS Trust in Swindon failed to treat her for a streptococcus B infection. The infection went untreated for 16 hours, leading to brain damage that requires constant care for the rest of her life.
The payout, one of the largest in NHS history, will cover the child’s lifelong care. The hospital trust admitted that earlier diagnosis and treatment could have prevented the damage.
The baby’s parents, while grateful for the settlement, said no amount of money could undo the harm done. “We will forever mourn the life she could have had,” they said in a statement.
This case highlights the risks of untreated strep B infections. Campaigners are calling for routine testing of pregnant women for strep B, a practice already in place in countries like the U.S. and Germany.
A Freedom of Information request revealed that Great Western Hospital Trust had not been following national guidelines for strep B. The trust has since apologized and promised to improve compliance with information provision for all expectant mothers.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it is exploring the benefits of routine strep B screening through an ongoing trial.
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