18th August 2026 – In June 2026, Fairweathers Solicitors LLP secured a settlement of £65,000 on behalf of a child, referred to here as X, following a delayed diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease during the first weeks of life.
Although X was born with Hirschsprung disease, a congenital bowel condition, it was alleged that repeated opportunities to diagnose the condition were missed despite increasingly concerning symptoms. The delay resulted in unnecessary pain and suffering, emergency admission to hospital, six days in intensive care, surgery and a total hospital stay of seven weeks.
During the first three weeks of life, X was reviewed by a number of healthcare professionals after failing to pass a bowel motion and continuing to lose weight. Hirschsprung disease was identified as a possible diagnosis, yet X was repeatedly discharged home with laxatives for potential constipation rather than being admitted for further investigation and surgery.
Our independent expert evidence concluded that, by Day 10, X’s presentation warranted urgent investigation and that the care fell below the standard of a reasonably competent paediatric surgeon or paediatrician.
Before instructing Fairweathers Solicitors LLP, X’s family had consulted three other law firms but had been unable to progress their claim.
We pursued the matter on behalf of the family with a full investigation followed by serving a detailed Letter of Claim fully supported by expert evidence
Following receipt of a response, the parties agreed to engage in alternative dispute resolution. Offers of £25,000, £30,000 and £60,000 were rejected before Steve Evans successfully negotiated a settlement of £65,000. The settlement was approved by the court at an approval hearing in June 2026, bringing the claim to a successful conclusion for the family.
Steve Evans, who had conduct of the matter, commented as follows:- “I salute the resilience of X and her family who had to wait a long time to have their day in Court. They were not deterred by having to instruct several firms of solicitors, nor by delays caused by COVID 19 and nor by having to wait many months for an Approval Hearing. They finally got there and in doing so obtained not just financial compensation but also an admission that unacceptable errors were made after X was born”
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