- Lucy Cookson had a massive haemorrhage after giving birth
- She was given a spinal anaesthetic instead of a general anaesthetic
- Mrs Cookson suffered a cardiac arrest that starved her brain of oxygen
- She was plunged into a coma and is still unable to walk or talk
Ted Thornhill for MailOnline
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A mum left unable to walk or talk after a medical blunder in childbirth has been awarded a ‘substantial’ settlement, which will help to provide her care for life.
Lucy Cookson suffered a catastrophic brain injury after she was rushed to theatre with a massive haemorrhage following the birth of her daughter Millie.
The 25-year-old, who lost six pints of blood on New Year’s Eve 2013, underwent surgery and was given a spinal anaesthetic instead of a general anaesthetic.
Lucy Cookson (left, with husband Adam in 2013) suffered a catastrophic brain injury after she was rushed to theatre with a massive haemorrhage following the birth of her daughter Millie (right, as a baby)
She suffered a cardiac arrest during the procedure at Pinderfield’s Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, which starved her brain of oxygen and plunged her into a coma.
Despite improvements, the young mum is still unable to walk or talk properly and relies on family and carers for help and support for everyday tasks.
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Lucy’s husband, Adam, of Wakefield, and her parents Bev and Andrew Schofield were left ‘heartbroken’ at what had happened to Lucy.
Speaking about the impact on the family, Bev, 52, said: ‘As a family we are still shell-shocked and heartbroken at what has happened to Lucy.
‘We are still trying to come to terms with what the future holds for Lucy and the rest of the family.
‘Lucy was so excited about the prospect of being a mother and they both looked forward to being parents for the first time.
‘Millie and Lucy have a close and loving relationship, but it is heartbreaking that Lucy can’t do the things that she would have done with Millie.’
Bev added: ‘To know that mistakes after Millie’s birth and if the complications had been managed properly that Lucy would have avoided the damage, is devastating.’
Lucy’s condition improved since lapsing into a coma shortly after her baby girl’s birth and by the end of January 2014, she had started to move her head and right arm.
Later that year she started to vocalise and more recently her therapists believe that she has started to consistently respond to questions.
Mrs Cookson suffered a cardiac arrest at Pinderfield’s Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, which starved her brain of oxygen and plunged her into a coma. The young mum is still unable to walk or talk properly
But a Serious Untoward Incident Report conducted by the Trust following the incident declared the severity of Lucy’s care as causing ‘very severe harm’.
Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted there was a failure to appreciate Lucy’s cardiovascular instability and that a general anaesthetic should have been used during her procedure.
The Trust also admitted that Lucy was not monitored correctly during her pregnancy and that there was a lack of senior staff involvement when Lucy suffered the post-partum haemorrhage.
Bev said: ‘Lucy spends four days a week at home and will come home permanently when the house is adapted and live with us and Millie.
‘It’s hard not to be angry about the findings of the Trust’s internal investigation as it is clear more could have been done to prevent the brain damage she suffered.’
Personal injury law firm Irwin Mitchell secured a lifetime care and rehabilitation package from the Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The settlement for Lucy came after a hearing at Leeds High Court on Tuesday, which will provide her with the funds needed for her long-term care.
The settlement includes a lump sum and annual payments for the rest of Lucy’s life.
Bev added: ‘We wanted accountability and transparency from the Trust about exactly what happened which is why we instructed our legal team at Irwin Mitchell.
‘The settlement we have now received will ensure that Lucy continues to access the specialist lifelong care, facilities and equipment she will need in the future.
‘You never expect this sort of thing to happen during childbirth nowadays but Lucy is proof that it does.
‘We have one hundred ‘what ifs’ about what more could have been done for her but we believe if maternity staff had more support and better training in crisis situations they would be better placed to react and provide the best possible care.
‘We believe more needs to be done in improving services so no one else has to go through the same horrific ordeal and is left in the impossible situation we now face.’
Partner and expert medical negligence lawyer Rachelle Mahapatra, from Irwin Mitchell, said: ‘This is a truly tragic case that has left a young mum with devastating, permanent brain damage.
‘This has also had a huge effect on the rest of her family, her husband Adam and her parents and sister.
‘We are glad to have secured Lucy a substantial settlement from the Trust that will provide for her immediate and future needs, including providing her with access to specialist care and rehabilitation services to help with any possible recovery and provide the best quality of life possible.’
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