Diagnosis families claims settled

Dr Holton was suspended from Leicester Royal Infirmary in 2001

Fifty of the families caught up in a misdiagnosis scandal at a Leicestershire hospital have settled their claims for compensation.

Dr Andrew Holton wrongly diagnosed 618 children with epilepsy at the Leicester Royal Infirmary between 1990 and 2001.

A fast-track compensation scheme was brought in last year to examine each child's treatment.

There are 518 families currently taking legal action, it is thought these claims will take two-and-a-half years.

£20,000 payouts

The parents' action group believes about 200 families are still set to seek legal advice.

The payouts for pain and suffering and the extra care costs parents faced have averaged at £20,000.

The NHS also has to pay out legal fees and experts expenses, which come to about £30,000 for each case.

One of the parents involved, Jane Hall, said her son Charlie was misdiagnosed with epilepsy and put on a cocktail of drugs he did not need.

She has since set up the Leicester Parents Epilepsy Action Group and is worried that some families affected by the misdiagnoses will not get the compensation.

"I'm concerned that some people daren't ring because they think they can't afford it, or they think they're in a group action, which doesn't exist, they have to contact a solicitor themselves," she said.