A High Court judge has approved a £120,000 payout to a girl born at Newham University Hospital where, her lawyers argued, there was delay in diagnosing and treating her dislocated hip.

Chloe McCarthy, now aged 12, was born in January 2002 with the condition and is now likely to need hip replacements by the time she is just 40-years-old.

Her lawyers said Chloe wasn’t diagnosed with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip, known as DDH, until the middle of August – three months later than it could have been detected if the family had received a letter for an appointment in April.

Auriana Griffiths, for the family said: “Chloe’s life has been blighted by her hip condition yet it could have been successfully corrected while she was still a baby had it been diagnosed and treated quickly. Time is of the essence in DDH cases and treatment needs to take place before the babies start to weight bear if there is to be a successful outcome.”

Chloe’s mother Dawn said her condition would become more debilitating as she gets older, adding: “She cannot lead the same active lifestyle as her friends and struggles with walking distances. Her condition impacts the whole family, including her siblings who are not able to enjoy active holidays or hobbies as it’s not fair on Chloe because she can’t take part.”

Barts Health NHS Trust, which now manages Newham University Hospital, admitted liability for the delay but refused to agree how this impacted on Chloe’s prognosis. A spokeswoman for the trust said: “We sincerely apologise for the delay that occurred at Newham Hospital in referring Chloe McCarthy for an appointment at The Royal London Hospital, the impact this has had on her family and the distress this has caused.”