A judge has approved a £27m settlement after a 13-year-old boy was left with “catastrophic brain injuries” due to a “breach of duty” by a children’s hospital.

The boy’s father sued Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool on his son’s behalf.

High Court judge Mr Justice Fordham outlined details of a settlement in a written ruling published after a hearing in Manchester.

The judge said the boy had suffered seizures as a toddler more than a decade ago.

Trust bosses admitted a “breach of duty” and “causation of loss and damage”, he added.

Mr Justice Fordham said the boy had suffered a seizure at 17-months-old on 19 September 2009 and was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

He said the youngster suffered a second seizure in the accident and emergency department “under observation by medical personnel”.

COP26 news live: Draft COP agreement just published – as ‘monumental challenge’ lies ahead on final day

From COVID to climate change: How green conspiracies about celebrities and lockdowns are spreading

Meghan’s aide regretted not giving evidence after Duchess of Sussex won lawsuit against MailOnline publisher, court documents say

Mr Justice Fordham said the boy was sent home and, despite reattendance, was not diagnosed with a virus until 24 September 2009.

“He sustained catastrophic brain injuries, leading to profound impairments and intractable epilepsy,” said the judge.

“Subsequently, the defendant admitted breach of duty.

“Subject to one contested point, the defendant also admitted causation of loss and damage.”

Mr Justice Fordham said the trust’s case was that the boy would always have suffered a “mild residual cognitive deficit and epilepsy in any event” and causation was “still in dispute”.

The judge said the boy had “very significant care needs” and would need help from carers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the rest of his life, plus modified accommodation, and specialist medical therapies and equipment.

Mr Justice Fordham said under the settlement the boy would get a lump sum plus periodical payments throughout his life.

He said he had been told that the “overall capitalised value” of the settlement award was about £27.3 million.

Evidence showed the boy had been a “healthy toddler” who was developing normally.

The judge said he had read about how the world of “each of the members of the family” had been “turned upside down”.

“I have read witness statements and I have seen photos,” he said.

“I have learned about how mum and dad came to operate, like a ‘tag team’, so that one of them was with the (boy) at all times.”

He said lawyers had told him “how mum and dad had to cope with these most traumatic events” and responded by meeting their son’s needs by themselves.

“I am satisfied that the proposed settlement is a sensible settlement,” said the judge.

“I am happy to give my approval to the settlement.”

The judge said the boy could not be identified in media reports of the case.

Related posts:

Blood clot victim’s sister ‘very angry’ but says everyone should have Oxford jab ‘Significant milestone’ as Morrisons widens plastic bag ban to include ‘bags for life’ COP26 conference ‘last, best opportunity to get real’ on the climate, says John Kerry Revealed: The areas with the highest and lowest COVID vaccination rates for over-50s Gov says new online safety bill will keep people safe but not everyone is convinced Police helicopter finds missing girl, six, asleep in a field over half a mile from her home Henley Regatta lets women wear trousers for the first time in its 182-year history Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice at buoyant Old Trafford on his second debut for Manchester United On this wall, there is one heart for every Briton who died from COVID. But now, they are starting to fade Seventy-five people have died in autism and learning disability units in England since 2015, Sky News reveals Porsche drivers sentenced for speeding at more than 100mph in YouTube video Banksy designs and sells T-shirt to fund four accused of toppling slaver statue