Seven Year Old Girl Wins Multi Million Pound Compensation

A seven-year-old girl who suffered severe brain damage due to a medical error during her birth has won a multi-million-pound compensation payout.

Rhiannon Pridmore, of Swansea, was diagnosed with tetraplegic cerebral palsy after the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck at Singleton Hospital.

Her parents Jayne and Brian sued the Swansea hospital’s managers and they have agreed to a seven-figure payout.

The local health board also apologised during the case at London’s High Court.

Rhiannon was effectively dead for eight minutes before medics managed to resuscitate her after her birth.

She has been left entirely dependent on her family and carers as she cannot speak, walk or stand and cannot sit up unaided. She also has serious visual problems and profound learning difficulties.

Her family’s lawyers argued in court that Mrs Pridmore should have undergone continuous monitoring during her labour.

We thank the Lord that Rhiannon survived her birth and, when she smiles, it is just fantastic and makes up for all the hard work Brian Pridmore, father

Adrian Whitfield QC, representing the local health board, told Mrs Justice Dobbs: “I would like openly to apologise to Rhiannon and her parents for the wrong that has been done to them.”

He also paid tribute to the couple’s “extraordinary devotion” to their daughter.

Although the exact amount of her payout has been kept confidential, the money will be needed to fund her future care. It will take the form of a substantial lump sum, along with annual, index-linked and tax-free payments to cover the costs of her care for as long as she lives.

Approving the settlement, Mrs Justice Dobbs said she recognised the “heavy toll” seven years of “relentless care” must have taken on Mr and Mrs Pridmore, who also have a six week old daughter Ava.

The local community – including Royal Mail workers – raised money

Rhiannon’s legal team spoke outside court saying her local community had come together to help raise over £10,000 to pay for her to make the trip to Key Largo, where she received 10 physiotherapy sessions and swam with dolphins.

By the end of the trip, Rhiannon’s ability to make and communicate choices was increased and her ability to hold her head and visualise was improved.

Mr Pridmore said outside court: “This money will give us financial security to provide for all Rhiannon’s needs and enable us to make her life as happy as possible.

“We have been waiting for this outcome to be able to afford to make adaptations to our home that will make life easier for her.”

The former postman added: “We thank the Lord that Rhiannon survived her birth and, when she smiles, it is just fantastic and makes up for all the hard work. We are so proud of her.”

A spokeswoman for Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board said the error took place under the former Swansea NHS Trust.

“Since then a number of changes have been put in place to minimise the risk of something like this happening again,” she said.

“All staff involved in interpreting equipment used to monitor foetal and maternal heart rate now attend update training twice a year.

“In addition, the protocol for monitoring women in labour has been updated, and risk assessment management processes, to identify any problems early, have also been put in place.”