Teenager Rhiannon Hayman who has cerebral palsy has been awarded £6.5 million in compensation. Her family raised court action as they believed that the hospital failed to provide a “reasonable standard of care”. However the Health Board agreed to pay the family compensation prior to a full court hearing taking place.
Rhiannon was starved of oxygen during her birth at the Princess of Wales hospital. When she was born she was in a breach position and there were delays in her delivery. This led to a period where her brain did not receive enough oxygen. This complication has left Rhiannon unable to talk or walk without help and she requires 24 hour care. In the future she will not be able to self-care or start her own family.
The Health Board apologised at the High Court for the failures of the trust. At the hearing the Health Board agreed to pay a £2 million lump sum in compensation followed by periodical compensation payments to fund her carers for the rest of her life.
