Disabled girl and her birth mother to sue for justice

A severely disabled young girl with cerebral palsy and her natural mother are suing Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board for injuries allegedly sustained during labour and birth.

Tia Miller, aged seven (who has since been adopted), is profoundly disabled with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy which was allegedly caused by clinical negligence during her birth at Caerphilly Birthing Centre on 24 September 2006.

Her birth mother, Samantha Roberts, is claiming damages for psychiatric injuries which it is claimed were caused by the traumatic circumstances surrounding Tia’s delivery.

Tia Miller and Samantha Roberts’ case is being dealt with by Withy King's Clinical Negligence team which includes a specialist birth injury unit.

Speaking on behalf of the two families, who live in Caerphilly, Simon Elliman, head of Clinical Negligence at Withy King, said: “I represent both Tia and her natural mother Sam in this very tragic case. We have issued and served court proceedings. The Health Board is denying that they caused Tia’s brain damage, although they do admit that Sam should have been transferred to the Royal Gwent Hospital well before Tia was born. Our case is that a timely transfer to the Royal Gwent would have made all the difference in the world, and that Tia would be a healthy little girl had that taken place.

“A claim for very substantial damages is being made on behalf of Tia, as she needs 24 hour care, and will do so for the rest of her life. We are seeking to progress the claims as quickly as possible, and are optimistic of a favourable outcome in both of them.”