£2.5m award over anorexia mistake

A woman has been awarded £2.5m in damages after her brain tumour was misdiagnosed by doctors who thought she was anorexic.

Amanda Hughes, now 23, was nearly nine when she was taken to hospital with fatigue and constant thirst.

The tumour was not diagnosed until a year later when she needed major surgery and chemotherapy.

Mr Justice Pitchford at the High Court in London approved the award against the Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust.

Repeated apology

Adrian Whitfield QC told the Judge her symptoms should have alerted staff to a possible tumour but they thought she was anorexic.

"The parents' efforts have been heroic - which seems to be apt to describe what they have managed to do in very difficult circumstances," said Mr Whitfield.

Paul Rees QC, for the trust, repeated its apology for the standard of treatment Amanda had received and paid tribute to the way Mrs Hughes had risen "magnificently" to the challenge.

The judge wished the family well and commented: "All of us hope that if it were ever to happen to us, we would be able to give with the selflessness that you have."