3 Yr Old Awarded Damages After Hospital's Failure To Diagnose Cancer

Damages have been awarded to a little boy in Northampton after a delay in his cancer diagnosis meant he had to have his right eye removed.

Three year old Harvey Della's family noticed his right eye was turning inwards when he was just 12 months old.

Two Month Wait For Hospital Appointment

Yet, by the time he was offered a hospital appointment, the cancer that had been present in Harvey's eye had spread to such an extent that it had to be removed by surgeons.

The NHS trust in questions said the two-month delay was due to a 'basic administration error'. This 'error', according to Harvey's mum Caroline Haywood, cost Harvey his eye.

Although the cancer almost definitely would have affected the sight in Harvey's right eye, had an early diagnosis been made they could have saved the eye and negated the need for an artificial one in future.

The story just highlights again how crucial early detection is in the treatment of cancer.

Top marks to Ms. Haywood for getting her little boy to the opticians and then the hospital as soon as she noticed something was up - she couldn't have done anything more.

Five-Figure Damages Awarded At Court

Undisclosed damages were awarded to Harvey at Birmingham County Court, said to be a five-figure sum.  The money will be put into a trust fund which Harvey can access when he turns eighteen.

If you or a member of your family has been the victim of clinical negligence, please contact us today to discuss your claim free of charge with a specialist clinical negligence solicitor.