A young girl will receive almost £8.5m in damages after her delayed delivery at a Great Yarmouth hospital left her with a catastrophic brain injury.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: A girl has received a multi-million pound payout after her delayed birth at James Paget Hospital left her with brain damage. Picture: Sonya DuncanA girl has received a multi-million pound payout after her delayed birth at James Paget Hospital left her with brain damage. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

The nine-year-old - who cannot be named - was born at the James Paget University Hospital in 2008, Mr Justice Foskett told London’s High Court on Monday, March 25.

But her delivery was “mishandled and delayed such that she suffered very considerable brain damage”, the judge said.

She now has “very significant disabilities”, is fed via a tube and is “wholly dependent on others” for her 24-hour care and supervision.

James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, accepted liability for what had happened to the girl, said the judge.

The trust has now agreed to pay her a £3.5m lump sum as well as £312,500-a-year, index-linked, to cover her care costs for life.

Leanne Woods, from the trust, apologised “for the shortcomings in care” provided to the girl and her mother.

She said in court: “The trust is very sorry for the events which occurred.”

Ms Woods also praised the girl’s parents for the “loving and devoted care” which they have given her.

Mr Justice Foskett agreed that “her parents have devoted enormous attention to her care already”.

Approving the payout, he added: “It will secure the kind of care she requires for the rest of her life.

“The future will be made a bit easier by virtue of the settlement achieved.”

Anna Hills, director of governance at the James Paget, said that lessons had been learned from the case.

She said: “Liability has previously been resolved and the respective legal advisors for the Trust and family have since worked closely together to assess past, present and future needs to ensure adequate compensation.

“Lessons have been learned from this case, which occurred 10 years ago, and the Trust is pleased that a settlement has been agreed, which will provide for future needs on a lifelong basis.”