Child Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy After Birth Complications? You Could Be Owed Millions.
A cerebral palsy diagnosis following birth complications is one of the most devastating outcomes any family can face. When the condition was caused by medical mistakes during labour and delivery — failure to act on foetal distress, delayed caesarean section, or other substandard care — the law recognises that your child deserves compensation to fund the lifetime of care and support they will need.
Scottish Claims Helpline handles cerebral palsy claims against NHS Scotland on a no win no fee basis. There is no financial risk to you. Compensation is designed to give your child the best possible quality of life.
How Much Could You Receive?
Cerebral palsy claims are among the highest-value personal injury claims in the UK:
| Severity | Typical Total Award |
|---|
| Moderate CP — some independence retained | £1,000,000 - £5,000,000 |
| Severe CP — limited mobility, significant care needs | £5,000,000 - £12,000,000 |
| Severe CP — 24-hour care, no independent living | £12,000,000 - £20,000,000+ |
Total award including general damages and lifetime care costs. Based on Scottish and UK case law.
That’s not all. The majority of a cerebral palsy settlement covers future care — 24-hour carers, specialist accommodation, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, equipment, adapted vehicles, education support and case management. Interim payments can be obtained early in the process to fund immediate care needs while the full claim proceeds.
Who Can Claim?
A parent or guardian can bring a claim on behalf of a child with cerebral palsy at any time before the child turns 16. The child then has until age 19. Claims are brought against the NHS Health Board responsible for the maternity unit. Your solicitor instructs expert obstetricians, neonatologists and neurologists to establish whether the cerebral palsy was caused by negligence during labour and delivery. Not all cerebral palsy is caused by birth negligence — but where it is, the compensation is life-changing.
Cerebral Palsy Claims — Frequently Asked Questions
Cerebral palsy compensation is among the highest of all claims. Moderate CP with some independence: £1-£5 million. Severe CP requiring 24-hour care: £5-£20 million+. The majority covers lifetime care costs, accommodation, equipment and therapies.
Cerebral palsy caused by birth negligence typically results from oxygen deprivation (hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy or HIE). This can occur when staff fail to monitor foetal distress, delay an emergency caesarean, mismanage the umbilical cord, or fail to resuscitate the baby promptly after birth.
The child has until their 19th birthday (3 years from their 16th birthday) under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. A parent or guardian can bring a claim at any time before the child turns 16.
Yes. Courts can order interim payments to fund immediate care needs, equipment, accommodation adaptations and therapies while the full claim proceeds. This ensures the child receives the care they need without waiting years for settlement.
Cerebral palsy claims typically take 3-7 years to resolve fully. However, interim payments can be obtained much sooner. The lengthy process reflects the need for comprehensive expert evidence on causation, prognosis and lifetime care needs.
Compensation covers: general damages for pain and suffering; 24-hour care; specialist accommodation; physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy; specialist equipment and mobility aids; adapted vehicles; lost earnings capacity; education support; and case management.
How Do I Start My Claim?
It takes 2 minutes. Fill in our short form and one of our specialist Scottish solicitors will call you back at a time that suits. They will listen to what happened, tell you straight away if you have a claim, and explain how much you could receive — all completely free and with no obligation. You pay nothing unless you win.
About this page: Written by the Scottish Claims Helpline editorial team. Reviewed by a qualified Scottish solicitor. Last reviewed February 2026. Scottish Claims Helpline is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (
FRN 830381).