Harrow hospital will pay millions to girl, 12, over serious brain injury suffered at birth

Sharani Sasikaran is set for a multi-million pound payment after a botched birth left her brain damaged

A girl aged 12 is set for a multi-million-pound payment after suffering a serious brain injury at birth.

Sharani Sasikaran, of Wembley, has finally received an apology from Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow over injuries that left her with cerebral palsy.

Her mother Suganthy, 36, gave birth at the hospital in September 2006.

In a letter received last month, the hospital trust admitted that had staff delivered Sharani earlier, she would not have been brain-damaged.

Mrs Sasikaran said: “The first three years were very hard. It’s a big relief. [When she was born] they took her to a different hospital. I couldn’t even hug her. I hope this never happens again.”

“Very friendly”: 12-year-old Sharani Sasikaran, on the right, with her sisters and parents

Hospital staff decided to induce Mrs Sasikaran when she was found to be suffering pre-eclampsia. But the family’s lawyers Fieldfisher claim staff left her on the labour ward for nearly four days with “no progression” and failed to recognise the baby was in distress.

They also claim staff administered more than the recommended amount of prostin, a drug used to speed up labour. When Mrs Sasikaran could not feel her baby moving she called a student midwife who realised the baby’s heart rate was dangerously low, they said.

An emergency Caesarean was performed but Sharani had been deprived of oxygen and suffered acute asphyxia. Born floppy and unresponsive, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Sharani has limited communication skills and needs constant care. Mrs Sasikaran said: “She’s a very happy, friendly child. She tries to play with everybody. She tries to speak but can’t. She can walk a few steps but falls over. I can’t leave her alone.”

Sisters Tasshini, nine, and Kaasni, eight, help their mother and father Subramaniam, 44, care for Sharani.

The NHS trust admitted it had breached its duty of care and said it was “very sorry”.

Lawyer Jane Weakley is assessing Sharani’s needs before agreeing a settlement. Her family would like to buy her an electric wheelchair.

Ms Weakley said: “Because the trust made a full admission of the failings that caused Sharani’s injuries, I will now assess her life-long specialist needs. These will be maximum severity and will amount to a multi-million-pound settlement.”

A spokesman for London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust said: “We would like to express our sincere apologies… The team has made significant improvements over recent years, and is currently involved in a national programme to increase the safety of mums-to-be and their babies.”

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