Heart girl dispute drags on

Sophie and her mother have moved into a specially converted home

The Devon mother of a victim of the Bristol heart baby scandal is facing further delays in settling legal costs of her daughter's claim.

Penny Plackett fears much of the compensation given to daughter Sophie in an out-of-court settlement could be used to pay fees.

The NHS is disputing £100,000 of the legal costs of the case.

Ms Plackett hoped a hearing next month would settle the issue, but it has now been postponed until the new year.

Sophie, who is now 15, was left profoundly disabled when, as a baby, she had a heart operation at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

She was eventually given £350,000 in a no-fault settlement, plus £70,000 a year for life.

But Ms Plackett says she is concerned a substantial amount of the compensation already awarded to her daughter will be taken away in extra legal fees.