Girl Injured During Forceps Delivery Wins £486,000

A 'delightful and determined' nine-year-old girl who was left with a dysfunctional arm after excessive force was used during her forceps delivery is to receive compensation of £486,000 from the NHS.

The plexus of nerves serving the girl's left arm and shoulder was damaged during her birth and she will never enjoy full use of the limb as a result. Lawyers acting on her behalf launched clinical negligence proceedings and the NHS trust responsible for the hospital where she was born admitted liability in full.

In approving the settlement, a judge noted that the disability would cause the girl difficulty and frustration throughout her life and was also bound to give rise to additional costs. Although no amount of compensation could restore the power in her damaged arm, the compromise arrived at was a reasonable one.