Marlon Sherman, whose son Harry was born with cerebral palsy as a result of admitted negligence by Colchester General Hospital and who died aged eight after ambulance crew failed to resuscitate him on the way to hospital, has spoken out to praise Essex solicitors Thompson Smith & Puxon and to express his relief that the case is over.

Thompson Smith & Puxon (TS&P) has provided legal advice to Marlon Sherman since 2001, starting with a successful case brought against Colchester General Hospital concerning their negligence at Harry’s birth. More recently TS&P has advised throughout the case against East Anglian Ambulance Trust.

Marlon Sherman said: “The relationship with TS&P has been exceptionally strong throughout. Julian Wilson, the firm’s clinical negligence specialist, has been very professional, very experienced and very compassionate. We bonded. I haven’t been the easiest client, very demanding, but he’s always stuck with me and given me the support and advice I needed. I took his advice and used it and would certainly recommend the firm.”

He continued: “The settlement from East of England Ambulance Service was never about the financial gain but about the principle of the matter, because the ambulance crew failed to resuscitate Harry on the way to hospital. The case is now settled and it has helped me get closure. It’s in the interests of the public that nobody else suffers what we have gone through.”

In November the Health Professions Council found paramedic Alan McFarlane guilty of misconduct.