Man receives £3.2m over meningitis delays
Man receives £3.2m over meningitis delays
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Wednesday, 25, Nov 2009 11:36
By Richard James.
A meningitis victim left severely brain-damaged after a hospital failed to initially diagnose his condition has today been awarded £3.2 million.
Mark Thomas, from Walsall, was 12 years old when doctors failed to recognise his worsening symptoms after his family took him to hospital.
In 2002 Mr Thomas developed an ear infection which eventually led to the virus. Blood tests taken at Walsall Manor hospital took five days to be reviewed.
Birmingham high court heard that if the delay had not taken place then Mr Thomas, now 20, would not have been with irreparable brain damage.
On Wednesday Birmingham high court awarded Mr Thomas a £3.2 million compensation package to help fund the lifetime of care he now needs.
Walsall NHS hospital trust has admitted liability in the case while Walsall manor hospital apologised to Mr Thomas and his family.
Commenting, the family's solicitor Tim Deeming, of Irwin Mitchell law firm, said: "If they'd have acted earlier Mark could have been admitted to hospital, given antibiotics and Mark would have been fine.
"All this could have been avoided - if prompt action had been taken by the hospital."
Mr Thomas' mother Elaine Thomas added: "It is so upsetting to think that all the plans and ambitions he had as a young lad will now never be realised."