![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_248212889-4021.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe girl requires two-to-one, 24-hour care for the rest of her life (Picture: Shutterstock \/ Gorodenkoff)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThe girl requires two-to-one, 24-hour care for the rest of her life (Picture: Shutterstock \/ Gorodenkoff)<\/p>\n
The parents of a baby left severely brain damaged by an NHS error have received a \u00a335,000,000 payout.<\/p>\n
The newborn was devastated by sepsis and meningitis after staff at Great Western Hospital NHS<\/a> Trust in Swindon failed to treat her for a common infection.<\/p>\n The child was left severely brain damaged after the mistakes, which have left her requiring two-to-one, 24-hour care for the rest of her life, The Times reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n The girl\u2019s parents have now received one of the highest payouts for maternity negligence in NHS history \u2013 at \u00a335 million provided over the course of her lifetime.<\/p>\n \t\t Medical staff overlooked clear warning signs for a streptococcus B bacteria infection in both the mother and the newborn baby.<\/p>\n Despite showing a high temperature and other symptoms, the mum was not tested for strep B.<\/p>\n Because of this, the baby should have been given antibiotics intravenously immediately after birth.<\/p>\n However, it took 16 hours for the deteriorating newborn, who had by then developed a fever, blotches on her skin, to receive the crucial treatment.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWhat is Strep B bacteria at birth? \t\t\t<\/p>\n Strep B bacteria is carried by 20 to 25 per cent of adults in the UK, only rarely causing symptoms, illness or infection.<\/p>\n It is commonly carried in the gut or vagina, and the danger is that pregnant women can give it to their babies during a vaginal birth.<\/p>\n The child picks it up as it moves down the birth canal, while babies born by caesarean section have a far lower risk or picking it up.<\/p>\n But it was too late, as she then became ill with sepsis and strep B-related meningitis, resulting in severe brain damage.<\/p>\n The brain-damaged child, who is now 11 and cannot be named for legal reasons, has been debilitated for life by the errors.<\/p>\n She will need 24-hour care from two nurses for the rest of her life.<\/p>\n \t\t The hospital trust admitted that the delay in diagnosis and treatment of the infection likely stopped them preventing the the child\u2019s brain damage.<\/p>\n The heartbroken parents said the massive NHS payout of \u00a335 million will not make up for the life opportunities their child has lost forever.<\/p>\n They said in a statement in The Times<\/a>: \u2018We consider ourselves immensely fortunate and grateful to still have her by our side, particularly during the early stages when survival seemed uncertain. <\/p>\n \u2018Nevertheless, we will forever mourn the life she could have lived and the experiences she will never get to have.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018No compensation can fully alleviate the pain and suffering she endured or restore the life she could have and should have had. <\/p>\n \u2018Despite this, the financial security she will now possess ensures that she will be well looked after even when we are no longer here. This brings us a great sense of relief.\u2019<\/p>\n The girl\u2019s case marks the second time untreated step B infections in newborns have hit the headlines.<\/p>\n The parents Zachary Taylor-Smith, who died 14 hours after he was born from a strep B infection in November 2022, have spoken out about the risks of infection.<\/p>\n University Hospitals of Derby and Burton trust admitted antibiotics could have been prevented his death.<\/p>\n His parents Tim and Hannah, told the BBC: \u2018We were not told about the risk of group B strep, and knowing about it could have been a different story.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Campaigners are calling for the NHS to be proactive in testing for strep B in pregnant woman.<\/p>\n Countries such as America, Canada, France and Germany do this routinely, but the UK does not view this as essential.<\/p>\n Jane Plumb of the charity Group B Strep Support, said: \u2018We\u2019re a real outlier here, which is devastating because routine testing could \u2014 and in other countries does \u2014 prevent most of these infections and ease long-term pressure on the NHS.\u2019<\/p>\n Her own son Theo died as a result of a strep B infection in March 1996.<\/p>\n Plumb and the girl\u2019s parents want the government to provide all women \u00a315 swab test towards the end of their pregnancy to help avoid a repeat of what they went through.<\/p>\n Plumb\u2019s work has also exposed the fact that the Great Western Hospital Trust were still not following national guidelines for strep B.<\/p>\n \t\t A freedom of information request showed the trust were not giving a leaflet on the bacteria to all mothers they cared for, only those believed to be at higher risk or who tested positive.<\/p>\n Luisa Goddard, chief nurse at the Great Western Trust, told Metro<\/strong> in a statement: \u2018We\u00a0have formally apologised\u00a0to the family\u00a0involved\u00a0for the trauma\u00a0and distress\u00a0they experienced during birth and over the last 11 years.<\/p>\n \u2018We hope that the settlement agreed will go some way in supporting the child through their life and ensuring they can receive the\u00a0ongoing\u00a0care they need.<\/p>\n \u2018Whilst our policy states that all women should receive an information leaflet about Group B Streptococcus, we are aware that this does not always happen, however all women who are symptomatic for Group B Streptococcus do receive the leaflet.<\/p>\n \u2018We have reminded our maternity staff about the importance of providing every woman with key clinical information,\u00a0including the information leaflet,\u00a0and will strictly monitor this compliance.\u2019<\/p>\n A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said of the payout: \u2018Our deepest sympathies are with those affected by this tragic case. <\/p>\n \u2018While there is currently insufficient evidence that the benefits of routine screening of pregnant women for group B strep infections could outweigh potential harms, an ongoing clinical trial is exploring this issue.\u2019<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n For more stories like this, <\/strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"Great](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_248210578-a112.jpg\")
\n\t\tGreat Western Hospital Trust in Swindon admitted liability (Picture: Geography Photos\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Streptococcus](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_248213922-e9dc.jpg\")
\n\t\tStreptococcus bacteria is carried by 20-25% of adults in the UK (Picture: Universal Images\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_248212795-4bc0.jpg\")
\n\t\tIt took 16 hours for the deteriorating newborn to receive the crucial treatment.
(Picture Shutterstock \/ horsemen)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_248212886-1a43.jpg\")
\n\t\tCampaigners are calling for the NHS to be proactive in testing for strep B in pregnant woman (Picture: Shutterstock \/ Gorodenkoff)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_248212382-2920.jpg\")
\n\t\tCampaigners want the government to provide all women \u00a315 swab test for strep B(Picture: Steve Parsons \u2013 Pool\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Baby was \u2018born twice\u2019 after extraordinary operation to save mum\u2019s life<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Weasel testicles used to cure heartbreaking condition by couples in medieval times<\/a><\/p>\n