The parents of a little girl infected with a deadly bacteria at birth have received compensation after Epsom Hospital admitted negligence.

Imogen Carter, now 23 months, was born with a group B streptococcus infection, after doctors at Epsom Hospital failed to spot her mother, Alexandra, 32, was a carrier of the bacteria during pregnancy.

Even though Mrs Carter had undergone all antenatal tests and the presence of the bacteria was noted on her files, doctors failed to give her the required course of antibiotics that would have prevented the transmission to Imogen.

Imogen only started treatment the day of her birth because her grandfather, Peter Carter, noticed jaundice and informed the doctors.

The family, Mrs Carter, Imogen and father Andrew, 34, who live in Banstead, received £5,000 compensation – which will be looked after by the courts until Imogen is 18 – and £1,000 for out-of-pocket expenses, from Epsom and St Helier Trust. The case was settled at Epsom County Court.

Mrs Carter said: “It was a very stressful time. It was the first time I had given birth and I was quite ill. It was very hard because she went in the incubator and I couldn’t even cuddle or breast-feed her.”

Imogen was then put through a series of invasive procedures, such as a lumbar puncture to check her spinal fluid, had to receive intravenous doses of antibiotics and be put in a UV cot to treat the jaundice.

Mrs Carter, who works as a European project manager, said: “They tested me and discovered I had a water infection and never told me. When they realised that after Imogen fell ill, they said ‘We should have given you antibiotics’. They admitted it was in my notes.”

Imogen was discharged after seven days, but despite doctors reassuring the family she would be fine, she had another infection five weeks later that left her hospitalised again.

Mr Carter, a primary school teacher, said: “Both times she fell ill she had blood poisoning, because of the group B strep infection. She was very lucky the infection didn’t spread and she didn’t have any brain damage or loss of hearing, for instance.

“We didn’t do this for the money. We were helped by a charity called Group B Strep Support and we don’t want other parents to have to go through the same as we have.

“Pregnant women should be routinely tested and should be told their results to prevent the babies from catching the infection.”

Stuart Bramley, from Tozers LLP, who represented the family, said: “Whereas group B streptococcus usually leaves the victim either dead or brain-damaged, happily Imogen was left unscathed, although she had to undergo a number of unpleasant and intrusive tests. Her good health now is reflected in the relatively low damages award – £5,000 for Imogen and slightly under £1,000 for her parents’ out-of-pocket expenses.”

A spokeswoman for Epsom and St Helier Hospital said: “We are genuinely sorry that Mr and Mrs Carter and their daughter Imogen did not receive the high level of care we aim to deliver. We recognise this has caused the family unnecessary pain and inconvenience and hope today’s settlement will go some way to compensate them for the distress caused.”