Woman wins £3.45m payout

Grannia East suffered complications after surgery at the Royal Hospital Haslar, Gosport, Hampshire, in January 2001.

The Ministry of Defence, the body responsible for the hospital, denied liability and took the case to the Court of Appeal.

But in July 2008 it ruled in Mrs East's favour, and yesterday Mr Justice Ouseley approved a settlement.

Mrs East, 44, who has problems with memory and concentration and is wheelchair-bound, was at London's High Court with her husband Shawn.

The judge said that the case contained a strong element of tragedy and also of "astounding care, love and kindness" on the part of the family. He said: "I wish Mrs East all the very best in the future."

Mr East, of Portsmouth, said: "We have had a very hard fight getting compensation for Grannia but we have a magnificent legal team who fought brilliantly for us all the way."