A FARNHAM woman left needing a lifetime of care following botched hospital treatment for a brain haemorrhage won a £2.1 million compensation deal at the High Court on Tuesday. Through her devoted husband, Gary, Ann Ellston sued the Charing Cross Hospital's managers - Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust - which agreed to the settlement of her case after admitting liability. Mrs Ellston, 46, a mother of three and a former counter assistant at Sainsbury's Water Lane store, collapsed at work on December 19 2001. She was rushed to Guildford's Royal Surrey County Hospital, where a subarachnoid haemorrhage was diagnosed, said counsel, Jane Mishcon. Her condition was considered so serious and life-threatening that she was transferred to the neurological department at London's Charing Cross Hospital the next day. Her lawyers claimed that early treatment using a technique known as "coiling" could have saved her from grave permanent injury.   They said that should have been done as a matter of urgency within a few days of her arrival at the hospital. But this was not done and, 13 days after her admission to hospital, she suffered a "further bleed" in her brain, with catastrophic brain damage the result. This second, avoidable bleed severely damaged Mrs Ellston's brain and she had to undergo numerous surgical procedures, while remaining an inpatient for a year, before her discharge for rehabilitation in December 2002. Mr Neil Block QC, for the NHS trust, told judge Mr Justice Eady: "One can only stand back and admire the devoted care Mr Ellston has given his wife. "There was a prompt admission of liability in this case, but the trust would like to take this opportunity to apologise for its admitted breach of duty. "It has obviously had the most devastating effect on this family and nothing can put that right." He said the trust hoped that the settlement would enable Mr Ellston to buy a lifetime's private care for his wife so that she can "live in such comfort and happiness as money can provide". Mr Block added: "I also record our admiration for what Mr Ellston has done for his wife. It is truly humbling." Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Eady said: "Mr Block has rightly paid tribute to the devoted care of Mr Ellston which is, in the circumstances, remarkable". Mrs Ellston's legal team said outside court: "She is a lovely person with a cheerful disposition who has tried hard to overcome her injuries. But she has permanently lost her previous ability to walk and function normally and to cope with the demands of life on her own. "She will always need full-time care and cannot work." They said Mr Ellston was also a victim of the hospital's negligence. "He understandably developed depression as a result of Ann's illness and had to give up work. "The responsibility for being his wife's primary carer inevitably fell on his shoulders. He has shown himself to be a devoted husband and has fought hard to get justice for his wife." They said the settlement "comes as a great relief to all concerned". "Gary wants to go back to work if he can. It will be possible for him to do that as the settlement of £2,100,000 will mean that a better home can be purchased for Ann and reliable carers can be employed to take the responsibility off Gary's shoulders. "He will know that Ann will be safe if he goes to work and life form and Ann will be restored perhaps in a small but important way to something like normality following almost five years after their normal life had been shattered by Ann's illness". Speaking to The Herald on Wednesday, Mr Ellston reflected on the experience. "It's the end of a very long and stressful three years, whereby my health has been affected. At one stage I collapsed because of stress. "Yesterday was a big relief it was quite an emotional day, really. Very emotional. It was a great relief." "Obviously, £2.1million is a large sum of money, but it does not compensate in any shape or form the loss that my wife has suffered in the ability to walk and the ability to look after herself. "What it does actually give us is security and to make sure that my wife receives the good care that she deserves for the rest of her life, whatever happens to me. She will always be looked after." "Ann is such a nice, friendly person. Everyone she meets likes her and she is really the bravest person I know. "Because of her disabilities she has had difficulties comprehending what has gone on over the past three years. After the High Court yesterday, I made a phone call to her, telling her about the £2.1 million, and she obviously took it all in for the first time. There were four of us in my car and and she phoned me up really really excited saying: "How much did I win again? "That was quite an emotional call."