£5m damages over pregnancy errors

A woman has won a £5.2m payout after her son was born with cerebral palsy because of errors by medical staff.

Tracey McAlinden, of Birmingham, spent 12 years fighting for help to care for Callum Robertson, who was born in 1994.

The payout will be staggered to pay for Callum's round-the-clock care. He uses a wheelchair and cannot dress himself.

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust admitted liability last year. The size of the award was confirmed at the High Court in Bristol on Thursday.

'Screamed constantly'

Callum, who has six healthy siblings, relies on his parents to wash and bathe him. He also needs constant supervision as he has little sense of danger.

Ms McAlinden, who is from Erdington, said: "He screamed constantly as a baby, but I couldn't get any help.

Maybe our story can give hope to anyone in a similar situation Tracey McAlinden

"Birmingham City Council said he wasn't disabled enough. The only help I got was a nurse who put a tube down his throat to feed him.

"I asked everybody for help and to this day I don't know why I didn't qualify even for a rubber mat to prevent him slipping in the bath."

Ms McAlinden carried out her own research in an effort to prove that Callum's injuries were caused by medical errors during her pregnancy.

She added: "We've proved today that mistakes in paediatrics were made and that Callum does deserve care.

"Maybe our story can give hope to anyone in a similar situation."

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust offered its unreserved apologies and regret to Callum and his family.

A spokesperson said: "It is clear the level of care he and his mother received at the time of his birth in 1994 fell considerably short of our usual standards.

"We have accepted full responsibility for the effect that Callum's injuries have had on his life and although no amount of money will compensate for his injuries, we hope the settlement agreed today will give him and his family security for the future."