NHS compensation payout hits record high as issues with maternity care uncovered

Solicitor apprentice in the clinical negligence team, Kacie Ward, looks at the substantial amount of compensation paid out by the NHS in the past year. Below she flags one of the key contributing cases from the Trust at the heart of the largest maternity enquiry in NHS history.  

In the past year, reports show that the NHS has paid out a record £2.8 billion in compensation for patient care failures, which is an increase of 140% from figures published in 2014/2015.   

Upon closer inspection, 41% of all compensation paid is in relation to maternity care. This highlights that despite the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) recent findings of improvements in maternity services such as at Salisbury District Hospital, many NHS hospitals across England are still experiencing ongoing issues with maternity services, including avoidable injuries to both mother and baby.  

Tragic deaths lead to fines for NHS Trust 

There has recently been a ruling to fine Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) £1.6 million, following the avoidable deaths of three newborn babies in their maternity unit in 2021.  

Following investigations by the CQC, NUH admitted it did not provide safe care and treatment to the mothers and babies involved. They admitted failing to ensure that adequate processes and systems were in place and implemented to appropriately manage risks to patient’s health and wellbeing, that in turn exposed them to a significant risk of avoidable harm.  

NUH is also at the heart of the biggest maternity inquiry in NHS history. Launched in 2023, the investigation now involves over 2,000 affected families, with the leading Midwife, Donna Ockendon, confirming a delay in her report until June 2026.  

Bringing a claim for negligent treatment during childbirth 

Up to 30,000 women experience birth trauma each year and around 1 in 20 experience PTSD.  

A clinical negligence claim can be brought against medical professionals when care has fallen below the standard that would be considered reasonable by competent medical practitioner, and where it can be proved that the failure in the care caused you to suffer injuries or make your condition worse.   

If you have experienced a traumatic birth which you think may have been as a result of inadequate care, you may want to consider taking legal action. At Morrish Solicitors, we are here for mothers who have experienced a traumatic birth and have considerable experience dealing with clinical negligence claims arising from birth injuries to mother and baby. We may be able to help you make a birth injury claim. Call 033 3344 9613 or email [email protected].