THE Newport woman suing Bristol Royal Infirmary for compensation over negligent treatment more than 20 years ago today won the right to millions in compensation.

Marianna Telles, now 22, was left facing a lifetime of disability after being treated at Bristol in the aftermath of her May 1985 birth with a "complex heart defect".

Top judge, Mr Justice Saunders, guaranteed her a huge damages payout when he ruled that heart surgeon, Janardhan Dhasmana - who operated on Marianna on May 8 1985 when she was just three days old - had been negligent.

The judgement opens the way for Marianna's family to recover damages in full from the Health Authority.

Unless settlement terms are agreed in the meantime, the amount of her payout will have to be assessed at another court hearing.