The mother of a boy left facing a lifetime of disability after contracting meningitis in north Suffolk as a baby has lost her final bid to get compensation for him.

Yesterday The Court of Appeal rejected a last attempt by Joanne Doy to secure compensation to meet the high costs for her son Kieran's care.

Kieran was struck down with meningitis in March 2002 when he was a few weeks old – leaving him partially paralysed, unable to speak and with learning difficulties.

His mother claimed when Kieran was taken to Lowestoft Hospital, he was not properly diagnosed by Kathleen Gunn.

Mrs Doy, whose address was given as Grayson Avenue, Pakefield, claimed Dr Gunn was dismissive of her concerns and only gave Kieran a rudimentary examination before diagnosing colic.

Two days later Kieran was diagnosed with meningitis after he went back to the hospital. In December 2011 Mrs Doy lost a bid at the High Court to get compensation as the court said it was not proved there had been a breach of duty on the part of Dr Gunn, who had pointed to contemporaneous notes and said she would have carried out a full examination of Kieran.

That failed bid led to yesterday's appearance at the Appeal Court, where Mrs Doy lost her last chance of compensation.

Lord Justice Maurice Kay said it was 'impossible not to feel sympathy' for the family, but added the court had been right 'to acquit Dr Gunn of negligence'.