Pages On: Birth Injury
Having a child is mostly a magical experience, however, preventable complications can arise. Medical professionals hold a duty of care to all patients, and pregnant people are no different. Injuries during childbirth can occur to the mother and baby where doctors and nurses act negligently. It can have seriously damaging consequences for the life of the child, such oxygen starvation leading to cerebral palsy. Such conditions can render a child essentially helpless, needing constant care. This not only removes the livelihood of the child, but the parents also. If you’ve suffered a birth injury, and feel medical negligence is to blame, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
Suggested Scrapping of NHS 111 after baby sepsis death
Posted: 30 January 2016
Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death
It has been suggested that scrapping the NHS 111 health helpline should be considered, according to an organisation representing local GPs. This is following the shortcomings leading to the death of one-year-old William Mead, who died from undiagnosed blood poisoning (sepsis) in December 2014. After visiting her GP several times, who also did not recognise the seriousness of William’s condition, William’s mother, Melissa Mead, called the NHS 111 helpline during the weekend. His life could have been saved The call handler, who does not necessarily have any medical training, input a series…
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Girl with cerebral palsy wins over £10m following hospital failings
Posted: 16 May 2015
Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence
An 11-year-old girl has been awarded over £10million in compensation following birthing complications that left her severely disabled. The girl, who remains anonymous, suffered a respiratory collapse only minutes after her delivery at Malton Hospital in 2003. The nearest general hospital, York, was forty minutes away and ambulance staff were unable to get her there in time to save her from oxygen starvation and permanent brain damage. The girl now suffers with cerebral palsy and depends on her parents for around the clock care. The York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation…
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Mother who's baby died in hospital gives evidence against midwife
Posted: 2 May 2015
Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death
The mother of a baby who died shortly after birth at Barrow’s Furness General Hospital in 2004 has described how the treatment she received by midwife, Marie Ratcliffe, was one of the “most heartbreaking” ordeals she ever had to deal with. Lesley Bennett, whose baby Elleanor died 27 hours after being born, informed the hearing that she instinctively knew that there was something wrong with her baby, but that the necessary steps were not taken by Ms Ratcliffe to deal with the emergency. Mrs Bennett was giving evidence at a Nursing…
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Mother wins payout of at least £14.6m for birth injury
Posted: 1 April 2015
Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence
A mother is to receive at least £14.6million in compensation after her son suffered severe brain damage when he was starved of oxygen during birth. Now 12-years-old, James Robshaw suffers with severe cerebral palsy and will require around the clock care for the rest of his life. The High Court ruled today (1 April) that United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust must payout at least £14.6million in compensation for the birth injuries. It was heard in court that hospital staff failed to carry out a Caesarean section on Suzanne Adams or…
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Girl Oxygen-starved at birth wins medical negligence compensation
Posted: 19 February 2015
Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence
A young girl who was left disabled after she was starved of oxygen at birth has been awarded compensation. Ayla Ellison, from Ulverston in Cumbria, suffered serious brain damage when hospital staff at Furness General Hospital in Barrow failed to provide her with enough oxygen during her “traumatic” birth in April 2007. Ayla, who is now eight-years-old, depends on constant care and has to be fed through a tube. In 2012, Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust admitted staff negligence that resulted in Ayla’s disability. At London’s High Court it was…
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Brain damaged victim wins £10million for Cerebral palsy at birth
Posted: 25 January 2015
Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence
Following a three-day long hearing at London’s High Court, a seven-year-old girl has won £10.1million in damages for being starved of oxygen at birth. Eva Totham was born with severe brain damage after birthing complications prevented her brain from receiving oxygen, leaving her with a mind that is trapped inside of a body that she can’t control. The award is believed to be one of the biggest personal injury payouts following a contested trail. The trust in charge of King’s College Hospital, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, admitted liability…
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Father sues hospital over baby death
Posted: 30 November 2014
Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death
The father of a baby who died during childbirth is suing the NHS for damages. Five years after Ian Wild’s son was delivered stillborn due to medical failings, Mr Wild says he now suffers from a “psychiatric injury” because of the trauma. He and his wife, Lisa, went to Southend Hospital in March 2009 when Lisa went into labour. Nurses, however, were unable to find a heartbeat for the baby and he was later delivered stillborn. Southend Hospital bosses have admitted liability for the baby’s death. It was heard in court that…
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Doctors' licence renewals deferred after review of midwifery service
Posted: 2 November 2014
Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death
Guernsey doctors have had their licence renewals deferred following a critical review into the island’s midwifery services. The review was sparked by a number of deaths that happened in the maternity department, but especially the death of a newborn baby earlier this year. Many of the Health and Social Services Department’s board members resigned following the tragic death. The doctor’s licences have been deferred for six months, and they will be expected to prove their ability to practice on a regular basis in order for the renewal to be granted.…
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Compensation awarded following blood clot misdiagnosis
Posted: 20 September 2014
Posted in: Birth Injury, Leg Injuries, Medical Negligence
A mother has been awarded £400,000 in compensation after she developed a potentially fatal blood clot after giving birth. The 41-year-old had complained of discomfort but was told by hospital staff that it was probably just hormones. Her lawsuit argued that she was not properly assessed despite being in a high-risk category having had deep vein thrombosis in her leg after giving birth to her first child. The unnamed mother is to receive £400,000 from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. It has been argued that even if the clot…
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Sheffield boy wins NHS compensation after brain damage during birth
Posted: 15 May 2014
Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence
A boy that was left with severe brain damage after a birthing complication has been awarded with a substantial NHS compensation package. 14-year-old Bradley Kendall sustained a permanent brain injury during his three-month-premature birth at the Jessop maternity unit in Sheffield. He now requires a great degree of care and will spend the rest of his life partially dependent on the help of others. Bradley’s parents, William and Joanne, blamed doctors for his brain injury and sued. They accepted a multi-million pound settlement at the High Court in London yesterday. The payout,…
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Newborn died unnecessarily after medical staff missed opportunities to save him
Posted: 1 March 2014
Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence, Wrongful & Accidental Death
The parents of a newborn baby that died only nine days after birth feel “let down” by the maternity staff at Furness General Hospital. Joshua Titcombe died in 2008 due to natural causes, but an inquest found that medical staff missed multiple opportunities to save his life. Following the baby’s death, the family said that they have suffered “unnecessary distress” as a result of how the hospital dealt with the incident. A lack of openness and honesty on the hospital’s part made the loss of the baby far worse. A watchdog attained…
Read MoreMultimillion-pound payout to 10yo girl who suffered brain damage from medical negligence
Posted: 28 January 2014
Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence
Great Ormond Street Hospital are to pay out multi-million pounds worth of compensation to a young girl who was left severely brain damaged following a major medical error. 10-year-old Maisha Najeeb was accidently injected in the brain with glue after two syringes were mixed up prior to the procedure. The injection was meant to block the bleeding of blood vessels in her brain, but instead left her with severe brain damage. Judge William Birtles approved a settlement against Great Ormond Street Hospital at London’s High Court. Maisha, who is now 13,…
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Brain damaged boy awarded payout
Posted: 20 November 2013
Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence
A 9-year-old boy has been awarded with a payout of £10m after being left severely brain damaged following mistakes made during his birth. Aaron Crosby, from Lincoln, is unable to speak or use his limbs after he was starved of oxygen during his birth at Lincoln County Hospital. During his birth, his mother had been administered a drug, of which she was given excessive doses, to stimulate contractions during labour. Due to these hospital errors, a payout of £10m has been agreed – one of the biggest compensation packages believed to have…
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£6.5m birth liability agreed for 15 year old cerebral palsy sufferer
Posted: 9 November 2013
Posted in: Birth Injury, Head and Brain Injuries, Medical Negligence
The family of a child born with cerebral palsy after undergoing birthing complications has received £6.5m after the hospital admitted liability. 15-year-old Olivia Banks was diagnosed with the condition just before she turned 1-year-old – a result of her brain being starved of oxygen during birth. Olivia, from Parkfields in Wolverhampton, requires 24/7 care and support, which Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust has agreed to cover with a payment of over £6.5m. This settlement will provide Olivia with life-long care, allowing her to have “as full a life as possible” –…
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Thalidomide victims awarded £80million health grant
Posted: 9 January 2013
Posted in: Birth Injury, Medical Negligence
The Department of Health is to pay around £80million over ten years to the Thalidomide Trust through an annual grant, which dispenses help and support to people disabled by the drug. This deal secures additional financial support for England’s 325 surviving “thalidomiders”, many of whom are unable to work and require adapted homes and cars. The grant recognises the increasing health needs of Thalidomide survivors as they approach older age and that more investment is needed to help meet the complex health needs that can arise. The grant, piloted for…
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