New NHS programme to reduce brain injury in childbirth to be rolled out across maternity units in England
In 2021/22, NHS England reported that 484,000 “birth complications” were recorded across 591,000 births. A sizeable portion of these complications resulted in birth injuries, with 730 claims related to brain damage between 2017 and 2023. Additionally, 30,000 women across the country experience birth trauma annually.
What is medical negligence in the UK?
Medical negligence in the UK, is also known as clinical negligence. It occurs when a healthcare professional such as a doctor or nurse breaches their duty of care to a patient that results in harm to the patient.
Number of traumatic births happening in the UK is a ‘national tragedy’
Whilst many women in the UK have a positive experience of birth, resulting in a healthy baby, this is not always the case. Pregnant women should have access to quality and consistency of care in maternity units throughout their pregnancy and across the country, it should not be a post code lottery as to the quality of care women receive. But, in recent years there have been a number of major investigations into failings in maternity care at specific NHS trusts.