E-mail this to a friend
Print this
Serious Flaws in NHS Maternity Care
10 July 2008
Sir Ian Kennedy, Chairman of the Healthcare Commission today criticised maternity care in Britain’s Hospitals. Commenting on the deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth he said, ‘There’s no reason why we should see that any longer’.
Russell Jones & Walker has handled a number of recent cases arising from poor care in Maternity Units. Some sadly have involved the death of babies. In one case a mother recovered £36,000 after her baby died shortly after birth at Princess Alexandra Hospital. The baby had become ischaemic - starved of oxygen - when hospital staff failed to respond adequately shoulder dystocia causing delays in the birth. Paul Sankey, specialist clinical negligence solicitor at Russell Jones & Walker said, ‘Money cannot compensate for the real human tragedy mistakes like this cause’.
The firm also acts in birth injury cases for both mothers and babies. In particular it represents a number of babies brain damaged at birth, some suffering from cerebral palsy and seriously disabled. In one continuing case a hospital failed to follow its own guidelines and induce labour 48 hours after the mother’s waters had broken. The error proved to be tragic. Infection caught through the ruptured membrane passed to the baby leaving him severely brain damaged. The baby will need expensive care for life. Russell Jones & Walker hopes to recover damages to meet the cost of care and equipment for this vulnerable child. Paul Sankey comments, ‘Nothing we can do can turn the clock back. But we can help to make life bearable for a desperately struggling family.’
In other cases the firm has acted for women who have been left in pain from poor quality stitching after vaginal delivery or incontinent after tears or episiotomies caused damage to their perineum, anal sphincter, bladder and bowel. Some have developed serious infections after retained products of conception are left in place after Caesarian Sections. These are often difficult and sensitive cases. They require specialist legal skills but also an understanding of how difficult it can be for women to discuss these personal issues.
Russell Jones & Walker has specialist teams of solicitors expert in handling clinical negligence claims. It is committed to pursuing justice for victims of medical accidents whatever their means from its network of offices across the UK.
Clinical negligence Fact Sheet