Meningitis victim awarded £4.3m compensation
A young woman who now suffers from major mental health issues
after the misdiagnosis of her meningitis has been awarded £4.3m in
clinical negligence compensation.
Natalie Tuthill's daily life is a gruelling battle thanks to
"uncontrollable" bouts of epilepsy - the consequence of a viscous
fight with meningitis earlier in her life.
According to her legal team, the 21-year-old is unlikely ever to
work again after medical professionals at Hull Royal Infirmary
failed to diagnose her "catastrophic" case of meningitis quickly
enough.
Natalie was admitted to the hospital as a baby but it took
doctors two days to diagnose a severe case of bacterial meningitis,
before she then underwent extensive brain surgery to save her
life.
This week the High Court ruled that the Yorkshire and the Humber
Strategic Health Authority should pay Ms Tuthill an upfront sum of
£1.75 million, as well as annual payments of £83,000 to cover the
cost of her care.
Natalie sued the health authority through her mother and her
payout includes £150,000 for Natalie's "pain, suffering and loss of
amenity" while part of the money will be spent on the family's
planned move to a larger home, which will be specially adapted for
Natalie's needs.