Huge award for cerebral palsy boy

10 January 2013 Last updated at 14:44 ET

The mother of a 14-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has won a 7.1m payout from the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Clare Scott's son Charlie was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic hemiplegic atheloid cerebral palsy after being brain damaged at birth.

She said the compensation would provide Charlie with security of care.

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust admitted Ms Scott's treatment during her labour "fell below an acceptable standard".

Ms Scott said staff did not notice Charlie's umbilical chord was wrapped round his shoulders and squashed completely for about 20 minutes during her labour, depriving his brain of oxygen.

She said as a consequence he "struggles every day" with muscle spasms and is not able to walk, talk or fully feed himself.

Paula Shobbrook, director of nursing and midwifery, said: "We apologise sincerely to Charles and his family for the level of care they received.

"Had an appropriate standard of care been provided, Charles' brain injury would have been avoided."

Charlie's mother first enquired about starting legal proceedings against the hospital when he was nine months old. The hospital admitted it was at fault in 2010 after the exact cause of the brain damage was established.

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Huge award for cerebral palsy boy