Girl’s life devastated at birth because doctor arrived too late

A girl is due to receive millions of pounds in compensation for injuries she suffered at birth after a doctor was late attending the labour because he had misplaced his pager.

A girl is due to receive millions of pounds in compensation for injuries she suffered at birth after a doctor was late attending the labour because he had misplaced his pager.

Rachel Robinson, now 12, faces a lifetime with cerebral palsy after being starved of oxygen during the final few minutes of her birth. The labour was going smoothly until a midwife spotted signs of potentially fatal heart decelerations. The mother, Margaret Robinson, was immediately moved to a delivery room and a call was put out to a doctor.

However, the doctor had lost his pager and so didn’t received the message. Several minutes later he happened upon the emergency by chance, but then wasted further time trying to locate his missing pager.

According to the Robinson family, the delay in treatment was the direct cause of Rachel’s cerebral palsy, which affects all four of her limbs.

The hospital did not accept that the delay caused her condition, stating that “an earlier delivery would probably have made no difference”. However, officials did accept that the doctor should have been in attendance earlier, and agreed to settle the case on the basis of 80% liability.

A spokesman for the family said: “Mrs Robinson remains entirely at a loss to understand how professionals employed to ensure her daughter’s safe delivery allowed such a catastrophe to occur.”

The exact compensation figure is still being assessed but is expected to be in the millions.

Madeline Seibert, Partner in the Medical Negligence Department at Attwaters Jameson Hill said: “This is a particularly upsetting case involving a young girl whose life was torn apart before it had even begun.

“Nothing can repay her for the injuries she sustained but at least the compensation should enable her to receive the care and support she will need for the rest of her life.”

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