A boy who suffered injury and was left with profound disabilities, as a result of the negligence of a NHS Trust, has been awarded £6.6 million in compensation.

Tragically, Leo Whiten suffered brain damage as a result of mistakes made by a NHS trust during his mothers labour and his birth at St Georges Hospital in Tooting. The brain damage Leo Whiten suffered has left him with extremely limited mobility and limited speech.  The expert witnesses in the case agreed that Leo Whiten would be totally dependent on the care of others for the rest of his life and that he would never be able to live independently, gain employment or manage his own affairs as a result of the injuries he sustained. .

Mrs Justice Swift who assessed the case at the high court noted that despite his profound disabilities, Leo Whiten was an engaging and generally happy child who was socially aware and enjoyed company.

I sincerely hope that the NHS trust involved and all other trusts have put in place measures to ensure no similar tragic incidents can occur in the future. An award of compensation may go some way to securing Leo Whitens financial future and assisting his needs to be met but it will not undo the tragic events of the past or prevent similar failings from occurring in the future.