The family of a young Derry girl who died after undergoing routine surgery in Altnagelvin Hospital nearly 13 years ago have been awarded £40,000 compensation.
The award was made by the Western Health Trust in an “out-of-court settlement” at Belfast High Court to the parents of Raychel Ferguson who was administered a lethal dose of intravenous fluid following the removal of her appendix in June 2001.
Raychel died in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children the following day.
The Western Health Trust, which has responsibility for Altnagelvin Hospital, had already accepted responsibility for Raychel’s death.
Raychel’s mother, Marie, had previously stated they did not want compensation and it was “not about the money” but they wanted to challenge the system how money was awarded to families who found themselves in a similar situations.
Raychel’s death is being examined in an inquiry set up to examine the hyponatraemia-related deaths of children in hospitals in Northern Ireland
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