Disabled girl's £5m pay-out bid

An independent assessment will be made of the delivery

The parents of a one-year-old girl born with cerebral palsy say medical negligence led to the condition and are calling for compensation.

Vicky Higgins and Jimmy Hanson, from Morthoe in north Devon, say their daughter Ruby will need a lifetime of care which could cost £5m.

They blame North Devon District Hospital for complications following a 30-hour labour.

A hospital investigation found that there had been delays in the delivery.

It's not for us, it's for her Jimmy Hanson

Ms Higgins told BBC News: "She has cerebral palsy for life, she might not be able to work or do normal things, so the money is going to help her."

Mr Hanson said: "It's a large amount of money, but it's not for us, it's for her."

Northern Devon Healthcare Trust's own investigation into the incident accepted that there were delays in delivering the baby, following a 30-hour labour, and that the doctor "failed to recognise the deteriorating situation".

Independent medical experts will now decide whether the delivery was the cause of her cerebral palsy.

The couple's legal team say compensation could amount to more than £5m.

Mike Roberts, the trust's medical director, said: "We've always been open and honest about what happened.

"We gave a full investigation report to Ruby's family and I talked them through what it meant.

"Like them, we'd like to see the case resolved as quickly as possible. It's not in anybody's interests, especially Ruby's, for there to be any delay."