A woman who was left severely brain damaged after a doctor gave an incorrect diagnosis of her condition has been awarded more than £4 million in compensation.

In 2002, Cristina Malcolm collapsed at her home in County Durham with a severe headache. Neither her GP nor hospital staff considered the possibility that the cause of her acute pain could be a brain haemorrhage.

Two weeks after the first headache, Mrs Malcolm suffered another brain haemorrhage and was taken to hospital for life-saving surgery. This left her with severe damage to her brain. She is now unable to recall anything that happened more than 10 minutes ago.

After her operation, Mrs Malcolm spent more than two months in intensive care and many months more in rehabilitation before she was allowed home.

Mrs Malcolm's husband brought a claim on her behalf against the GP and the hospitals involved over the medical mistakes that were made. On examining Mrs Malcolm when she had the first headache, her GP had checked her pulse and temperature and quickly deduced that she was suffering from a virus. However, medical convention is that if someone who does not normally get headaches has severe, unexplained head pain, it should be treated as a possible brain haemorrhage.

Had she been admitted to hospital immediately, the correct diagnosis could have been made and the second haemorrhage might well have been prevented. The delay drastically reduced the chances of doctors successfully treating Mrs Malcolm's condition.

The NHS Trust admitted liability for 95 per cent of the claim and agreed a settlement of £4.46 million.