Brain-damaged mother awarded £1m

Darshan Banwatt, 58, suffered bleeding “from which she nearly died” after gynaecological surgery at Peterborough District Hospital in December 2000. Robert Francis QC said at London’s High Court the operation was a success but she did not receive required care. The hospital trust admitted liability and Mrs Banwatt was awarded the £1.12m plus annual payments of £29,000.

Factory worker Mrs Banwatt, from Peterborough, supported her family single-handed before she was left with brain injuries when she was “not attended to as she should have been” by the hospital, the hearing was told.

Through her husband Parnjit, of St Paul’s Road, Peterborough, she sought damages from the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which now manages the hospital.

The trust’s QC, Paul Rees, publicly apologised for the tragic outcome and said a comprehensive review had also been undertaken to prevent a similar future mishap, the court heard.

She attended the court in a wheelchair and her QC told Mr Justice Butterfield: “Although she may look as though she is sleeping, I can assure you she is not.”

Mr Francis said Mrs Banwatt’s family, and in particular her husband Parnjit, refused to believe she was beyond hope.