Maternity negligence claims against the NHS
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The Guardian has revealed that the NHS is heading for a £27bn bill for maternity negligence claims in England.
Figures released by the NHS indicate that since 2019 maternity negligence claims in England are likely to cost the service £27.4bn.
The number of families taking legal action for obstetrics errors has risen record levels, with over 1,200 families doing so last year.
The figures, which reflect the number of injuries and deaths involving mothers and babies, have been described as “absolutely shocking”.
Compensation payments only account for part of the 27bn figure, as legal costs must also be factored in.
A report published by NHS Resolution, confirmed that the cost of settling all maternity-related claims was £37.5bn; almost two-thirds of the total £60bn bill for clinical negligence.
A former health secretary, is quoted as saying:
“It should be a matter of national shame that we now spend more on maternity litigation than the total cost of running maternity services.”
There has been increasing concern about the standard of maternity care in NHS hospitals following a series of high profile cases and scandals. Two-thirds of NHS maternity units have been independently classed as inadequate or requiring improvement.
Medical negligence lawyer Oliver Thorne has assisted a number of families (such as the parents of baby Giles Cooper-Hall) and campaigns for improvements to be made.
Oliver’s colleague Caroline Webber-Brown is also experienced in dealing with maternity negligence cases. You can read how she recovered compensation totalling £350,000 after making a successful claim against an NHS Trust for failure to diagnose and repair a 4th degree perineal tear.
Oliver and Caroline are concerned that maternity failings are even becoming ‘normalised’.
NHS England has pledged to take action to improve standards, recognising that families are not receiving the high-quality maternity care they deserve.
How we can help with your maternity negligence claim
If your family has suffered as a result of a hospital failing and would like to speak to an expert in maternity compensation claims, then please contact us for a free consultation, and details of no win, no fee funding.