Derby and Burton Maternity Services Claims
In February 2023 an independent thematic report into University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (“the Trust”) carried out by Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (“HSIB”) looked into a number of maternal death and maternal collapse events that occurred between January 2021 and May 2022.
Derby and Burton maternity services claims
Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital in Burton together with their maternity care units are operated by University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. Unfortunately concerns over the maternity care within this Trust have been on the rise in recent times.
In February 2023 an independent thematic report into University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (“the Trust”) carried out by Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (“HSIB”) was published. This report concentrated on a number of maternal death and maternal collapse events that occurred between January 2021 and May 2022. The report, which can be found here, made a large number of findings leading to safety recommendations and safety prompts being given by the HSIB.
Freeths’ maternity negligence team are currently acting for some patients who form part of the report. The Trust have also engaged with the NHS England Maternity Support Team to review their maternity provision. Recommendations have been provided to the Trust to enable improvement to the maternity services.
Over recent years our maternity negligence team have been approached by a large number of concerned patients, parents and families about their maternity experiences at the Trust.
Maternity negligence claims
The number of maternity negligence claims and the level of damages paid out by the Trust over the last decade, may indicate a broader cultural or systemic issue. Mistakes have been made, but the many enquiries received by us where concerns have been voiced suggest that perhaps not enough has been done to learn from errors made and prevent future mothers and babies being put at risk.
Stillborn and neonatal death claims
The death of a baby is a devastating time for a parent and their family but this news can be even more distressing if something has gone wrong with the management of the birth. In these situations, the outcome can be devastating and life changing for those involved.
In a significant number of stillbirths and neonatal deaths nothing can be done to prevent this from happening. There are cases however, where better management during pregnancy or monitoring of the baby could have prevented the tragedy. Every parent has a right to know what happened to their baby and the experienced maternity negligence team at Freeths can assist parents with obtaining answers to their questions.
Call us on 0330 100 1014 and speak to our compassionate and understanding team or fill out our online form >
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About our maternity negligence expertise
We are a nationally renowned medical negligence team, instructed by numerous parents who have concerns about the maternity treatment they received at Royal Derby Hospital. We have already been successful in claiming damages for several parents.
Why choose Freeths’ maternity negligence solicitors?
We help families to investigate the care that they or their loved ones have received and look to hold the NHS accountable where that medical care has been substandard to help prevent others suffering as a result of the same mistakes in the future.
We have a proven track record of successfully assisting our clients to find answers and obtain compensation. Our specialist maternity negligence solicitors are highly experienced in handling stillbirth and neonatal death cases and provide vital support to our clients in tragic circumstances. We are also renowned for our expertise in maternity and birth injury claims including both cerebral palsy and brain injuries.
If you have concerns about maternity treatment, you or a loved one has received at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, or about any maternity treatment you have received, then please contact our specialist lawyers for free initial advice.
Call us on 0330 100 1014 or fill out our online form.
Derby & Burton maternity units review
Speaking to ITV News, Karen Reynolds, Partner says “these failures cause catastrophic devastation to families. We can’t allow this to keep happening. We need an independent investigation”.
Our recent maternity negligence cases
- We acted on the behalf of the Claimant who received negligent care from a consultant during the pregnancy. A settlement reached was in seven figures. At a scan polyhydramnios and reduced growth was noted. The mother of the Claimant was not advised of this. If she had been appropriately advised she would have had a number of treatment options which would have included earlier delivery. If earlier delivery had taken place, the Claimant’s brain injury would have been avoided.
- We acted on behalf of a Claimant who suffered with whole body dyskinetic/spastic cerebral palsy (GMFCS Level V). A settlement was reached in the sum of £8 million. We argued that in the Claimant’s case the Defendant Trust failed to appropriately monitor the Claimant by way of CTG and as a result, diagnosis of fetal bradycardia was delayed. Thereafter there were further delays in contacting the obstetrician, transferring the mother to the operating theatre and performing an instrumental delivery. The failures on behalf of the Defendant Trust led to the Claimant suffering his severe cerebral palsy. Further to the Defendant’s denial of liability the case went to trial. In judgment it was found that had the Claimant been born 10 minutes earlier they would have sustained mild damage and not the severe damage in fact sustained.
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Derby and Burton Maternity services FAQs
The treatment offered by a doctor or midwife should be individual to each patient.
If you are concerned that you were not given sufficient information before your treatment, you may be able to claim. Please contact us on 0330 100 1014 or fill out our online form.
Please contact us and we will be able to consider your circumstances in more detail.
We offer free initial advice, to establish whether you may have a claim.
If we confirm you may have a claim, then we may be able to offer you a “no win no fee” agreement (known as a Conditional Fee Agreement).
As an average guideline, standard cases can take between 18 – 24 months to be settled, but this is by no means a definitive timeline. Where birth injuries are involved, it may be some time until the extent of the injury is established. Every case is unique.
Meet the team
Karen Reynolds
Partner & Head of Clinical Negligence for Derby, West Midlands & North West
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