Couple Win Hospital Negligence Claim for Tube Left in Baby

A Staffordshire couple have won their hospital negligence claim against the Stafford Hospital after a tube was left in their son´s throat for ten days following his delivery in February 2007.

Claire and Kevin Thomas of Cannock, Staffordshire, took the hospital to court after their ten day old son coughed up the six inch long endotracheal tube which had been inserted in his throat to help him breathe during a difficult delivery.

Because of complications during baby Owen´s birth, mother and son were still in the specialist care unit of Stafford Hospital when the incident happened and he was able to receive immediate medical attention.

Although Owen – who is now four years of age – suffered no long term health effects from the surgical error, his parents decided to take legal advice and made a hospital negligence claim against the hospital and the staff who had assisted with Owen´s delivery.

The claim has now been settled against Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust for an undisclosed sum