Ipswich parents 'to get help' with £184K birth cost

Evie is expected to remain in a Dominican Republic hospital for up to 16 weeks

A couple facing a £184,000 medical bill after their daughter was born prematurely in the Caribbean are to be helped by their insurer.

Evie was born 12 weeks early when her parents Sharon Halls and Daniel Compton, of Ipswich, were in the Dominican Republic for a wedding.

They set up an appeal online to pay for Ms Halls and Evie's medical costs.

Infinity Insurance Services said all costs and Evie's repatriation, when she is well enough, would be covered.

The parents, who remain with baby in Punta Cana, said they have already paid thousands of pounds for medical care while waiting for their insurers to respond.

Ms Halls was due to have a caesarean after contracting an infection in the Dominican Republic, but eventually gave birth to Evie on 28 September.

She weighed 2lbs 10oz (1.1kg).

'All costs covered'

Her parents claimed they had to pay $10,000 (£6,590) as a deposit and ongoing costs of $2,500 (£1,647) a day, which would amount to "a worst case scenario" of £184,000 before Evie is well enough to travel.

The matter in dispute had been Evie's birth at 28 weeks and six days, at 22:45 Dominican Republic time.

Ms Halls was covered for a normal pregnancy up to 29 weeks.

Stephen Howard, director of Infinity Insurance Services, said: "All future costs in relation to Ms Halls' medical needs abroad, as well as those of Evie will be covered by the policy and the family will be repatriated just as soon as Evie is well enough to travel without risk."

It is not yet known what the family intends to do with the £71,000 already donated to its fundraising page.