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How Much Compensation Can I Claim For Midwife Negligence Claims

By Lewis Cobain. Last Updated 21st June 2023. Welcome to our guide about midwife negligence compensation. We look at how to claim compensation for injuries to the mother and baby caused by medical negligence. This guide looks at negligence by hospitals in England and Wales, but circumstances and claims may be similar in Scotland. 

If you or your baby have suffered harm as a result of midwife negligence during pregnancy, delivery or postnatally then you may be eligible to claim compensation for any losses and the pain and suffering you have experienced. Although millions of babies are delivered safely every day, there are a number of ways in which mother and baby can suffer an injury during this vulnerable time. If you wish to seek the damages you deserve then please call Legal Expert and we can allocate a highly experienced solicitor to your case.

Please read on to find out more about claiming for midwife negligence and call us when you are ready to begin your claim. We will be ready and waiting for you, call us free on 0800 073 8804. If you prefer, you can also contact us through our website or write to us using the Live Chat feature now on your screen.

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Your guide to Midwife Negligence Claims

Although pregnancy and birth are a very special time for parents, they can also be worrying and leave you feeling vulnerable. You expect a midwife to empower you and make you feel safer during the delivery of your baby. If something goes wrong in your pregnancy or during the birth of your child then the impact of this can be utterly devastating.

Both the physical and psychological impact have the potential to be huge. This guide covers a number of the conditions and types of harm that can result from midwife negligence. However, the lists are not exhaustive and if you have experienced any other kind of midwife negligence then please get in touch with us and we can advise you whether or not you are eligible to claim midwife negligence compensation.

What Is Midwife Negligence?

midwife negligence claims

Midwife negligence

You may have questions such as “what is midwife negligence?” The area of midwife negligence is huge and can occur during any part of your pregnancy, labour or postnatally. If your midwife behaves in a negligent way during any part of the process which directly results in unnecessary harm to either you or your baby then you may have grounds to claim. The following scenarios are just some ways in which you could bring a midwife negligence case.

  • If you have presented to your midwife with certain symptoms or abnormalities that should have been recognised as a potential problem, but the midwife has not carried out appropriate examinations or tests to investigate the problem further.
  • If your midwife does order further tests but then fails to read the results properly, record the tests appropriately or report them properly, which leads to either a misdiagnosis or a diagnostic delay of a complication then this can also be considered negligent behaviour.
  • If a diagnosis of a potential complication is made, it is then the midwife’s duty to act upon these results and ensure that you are following the right course of treatment. If your midwife fails to take action after receiving results or fails to advise you properly on the next steps then this is negligence by omission.
  • When you become pregnant, your midwife will talk to you about any pre-existing conditions that you may have or a family history of a condition that could impact your pregnancy. If you tell the midwife this information and the midwife fails to take action, despite the fact that it could cause complications further down the line then the midwife can be held responsible for this.

This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are many other scenarios in which a midwife may be held responsible for a complication that occurs, harming yourself or your baby.

Can I Sue A Midwife?

You may be wondering, “can I sue a midwife?” It’s important to note that depending on circumstances you might claim against the midwife or their employer. If, for example, your midwife worked for a private healthcare provider, you would sue them directly for the midwife’s negligence. 

Medical negligence claims are based on proving that the third party, in this instance, a midwife, was negligent in their actions leading to you or your baby being injured. The reason you may be able to claim is that every medical professional has a duty of care. If their actions go below the standard duty of care, leading to an injury, you may be able to claim.

Midwife negligence cases and midwife negligence claims cover a wide variety of situations. We understand however that it may be difficult for you to decide whether or not your midwife’s actions were negligent. That is why Legal Expert is on-hand to advise you about your rights. If you believe that you have experienced midwife negligence and have suffered harm as a result then we suggest that you seek the advice of a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible.

Midwife negligence statistics

Statistics show that midwives may be involved in different types of clinical negligence cases. Various studies have shown that midwives may be involved to various degrees in different compensation claims. Midwives may be involved in cases relating to Antenatal Ultrasound Investigations or the failure to read cardiotocography (CTG) among other claims.

The latest annual report of the NHS, from 2020/21, shows that over £2,000 million was spent by the NHS on clinical negligence claims. This would include payments made from midwife negligence claims. 

Typically, the largest midwife negligence claims may involve brain injuries to the newborn baby. Parents of these children may need to claim for lifelong care costs. Babies who have suffered brain damage may be starved of oxygen due to a failure to properly monitor their heart rate or detect risks of reduced oxygen.

Medical Negligence Claims – Do I Need Evidence?

If you’ve suffered due to negligence regarding your pregnancy, any negligence claims need to be supported by evidence. Each claim is different, so the evidence you will need will depend on your specific circumstances. However, here are a few general examples:

  • Medical evidence – You have the right to request access to your medical records at any time. This can include symptoms and treatments, including the results of procedures such as ultrasound scans.
  • Pictures – You can provide any pictures of your injury.
  • Your own written account – Make sure you keep track of any issues or impacts on the health of you or your baby as a result of midwife negligence.

For more examples on how to support childbirth negligence claims, get in touch with our advisors today.

What injuries can midwife negligence cause to a baby?

Here are just a few examples of the kind of harm that midwife negligence can lead to:

  • Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition which affects an individual’s ability to move and co-ordinate their muscles. It is caused by damage to the brain. One of the common causes of cerebral palsy is failure to intervene when there is an indication of foetal distress during labour. If delivery is delayed, a baby can be starved of oxygen, causing damage to the brain. This is often due to the fact that the CTG trace was interpreted incorrectly by the midwife.

Cerebral palsy can also be caused following the birth if the midwife fails to notice or diagnose hypoglycemia, jaundice or serious conditions such as meningitis. You may also be able to claim medical negligence if these conditions were diagnosed but there was a delay in treatment.

  • Erb’s Palsy

Erb’s palsy is also known as brachial plexus palsy. It occurs when there is trauma to the baby’s neck during childbirth, causing damage to the nerves. This is usually caused when the baby’s shoulders become trapped in the birth canal and excessive force is used to deliver the baby. The process of becoming trapped means that the baby’s chest and cord are compressed and the baby struggles to breathe. If there is excessive traction on a baby’s neck, head or shoulders during delivery, resulting in Erb’s Palsy, then you may be able to claim compensation.

The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that runs from neck to arm. They enable feeling and movement in the arms and hands. Although some babies will recover without intervention, others suffer permanent disability which requires ongoing treatment.

  • Brain injuries

Brain injuries at birth are usually caused when a baby is deprived of oxygen, also known as birth asphyxia. It can also occur as a result of undiagnosed or untreated jaundice or physical trauma. Just a few minutes of birth asphyxia can lead to a degree of brain damage. The brain damage that babies suffer can vary from mild to severe and depending on the injury, the level of need may be minimal or may make them highly dependent on other people for the rest of their lives.

As well as needing medical care in the hospital immediately following birth, babies with brain damage are likely to need physical therapy, speech therapy and emotional therapy for a long time to come. Although no parents or baby can ever be fully compensated for the harm that has occurred, they may find that it is a necessity to claim financial compensation to help them deal with the additional costs that they now face.

  • Fractured or broken bones

The most common bone to be broken during birth is the clavicle but other bones are vulnerable to breakage too. It may be hard to tell initially that a bone is broken but the baby will be unable to move it and will show signs of discomfort. A midwife may be held liable for broken or fractured bones if they have allowed labour to go on for too long, failed to diagnose a breech birth, failed to respond appropriately to shoulder dystocia or used excessive force to deliver the baby.

In the case of a broken clavicle there is very little treatment that can be offered other than pain relief. Other broken bones may require setting or even need surgery. Broken backs or necks are the most serious kind of fracture and will require emergency treatment. They can sadly result in a permanent disability.

  • Bell’s Palsy

This can be caused by a forceps delivery which is not carried out properly. It can damage the facial nerves causing paralysis. You can claim Bell’s palsy compensation if you have evidence that negligence led to this condition in your baby.

What injuries can midwife negligence cause to a mother?

Injuries sustained by the mother during birth can have long lasting consequences. There are a number of scenarios in which you can make midwife negligence claims. They can include:

  • Avoidable vaginal tears. Although vaginal, anal or perineal tears are not uncommon and often tricky to prevent, the severity of them can be reduced by a careful midwife. Failure to properly check for tears or give advice on appropriate treatment to ensure no other more serious conditions arise from the tear can result in compensation for a tear during labour.
  • Incorrect stitching after an episiotomy.
  • Harm resulting from a midwife’s failure to spot an underlying condition during the pregnancy, for example, preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.

This list is not exhaustive and if you have experienced any other kind of harm as a result of a midwives negligence then please call Legal Expert today and find out whether you could be eligible to claim compensation. Remember if the midwife was negligent, compensation may be payable. If you are still unsure and wondering ‘was my midwife negligent?’, then one of our advisors will be glad to have a chat and advise you.

What are the long term effects of midwife negligence?

It goes without saying that the long-term impact of midwife negligence can be absolutely devastating for a family. To have a long-awaited baby that suffers harm at the point of delivery is heartbreaking. Even relatively minor harm that occurs during childbirth as a result of midwife negligence can result in long term trauma to the mother. A difficult delivery may mean that the mother wishes never to have another child. More serious injuries can mean that assistance and medication are required on an ongoing basis, potentially for the rest of the child’s life.

Claiming midwife negligence against the NHS

If you were treated in the NHS then you are still absolutely eligible to claim compensation. Your eligibility to claim damages extends to any negligence in midwifery practice. In fact, the NHS have their own litigation authority to deal with clinical and nonclinical claims, it is called NHS resolution. Our personal injury solicitors will be very happy to talk you through the process of midwife negligence claims.

Claiming midwife negligence against a private practice

If you have received treatment from a midwife in private practice and you experienced harm as a result of midwife negligence then you are eligible to claim birth negligence compensation. In order to be able to make a successful claim you need to prove liability. This is the tricky part and we strongly recommend that you seek a personal injury lawyer to help you to do this. In order to have the best chance of success in your midwife negligence claim, you should have an experienced professional on your side. This is where Legal Expert can help.

What can I claim for as part of a midwife negligence claim?

If you wish to make midwife negligence claims, the personal injury claims time limit is usually three years from the date your injuries occurred or were diagnosed. This time limit is set by law under the Limitation Act 1980. This time limit can work differently under certain circumstances.

If, for instance, your child has been injured due to midwife negligence, then the time limit for claiming does not apply to them until they reach their 18th birthday. Also, the time limit will be frozen (at least temporarily) if a victim of midwife negligence is an adult but lacks the mental capacity to act on their own. Children and those lacking the mental capacity to act independently can’t start their own claim. However, a representative known as a litigation friend may be able to claim on their behalf.

Whatever your exact circumstances are, we recommend that you contact a solicitor as soon as possible in order to begin gathering evidence.

Your solicitor will advise you what type of compensation you can include as part of your personal injury claim. This may include general damages and special damages. General damages are payable for the pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of midwife negligence. Special damages may be payable in addition to general damages in order to compensate for financial losses directly linked to midwife negligence and the injuries that negligence caused.

Examples of financial losses which could be covered under special damages could include the following:

  • Travel Costs – If you have been out of pocket as a result of travel costs associated with the injury then you can claim these back. Remember to keep receipts to prove how much you have paid.
  • Care Claim – If you have required help at home during the time you have been recovering from your injury then care costs can be claimed as a result.
  • Loss of earnings – If you have experienced a loss of earnings due to the injury, or will continue to lose out on future earnings as a result of your injury or they need to look after your child who has been injured then you can make this claim as part of your overall midwife negligence claim.

Compensation Calculator For Medical Negligence – Midwife Negligence Claims

Compensation for negligence at the hands of a medical professional can vary in its value due to a variety of factors. For instance, the figure that relates to your pain and suffering is known as general damages. Legal professionals involved with your case will calculate an appropriate fee depending on the extent to which you have suffered as a result of your injuries.

When doing so, the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can be used. The JCG last received an updated in 2022. The figures below have been taken from this latest version.

However, how much compensation for medical negligence you receive will be determined according to your individual circumstances. You can contact us directly to receive a more accurate valuation.

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Injury Severity Compensation
Head or Brain Injury Very Severe £282,010 to £403,990
Head or Brain Injury Moderately Severe £219,070 to £282,010
Head or Brain Injury Moderate £43,060 to £219,070
Head or Brain Injury Less Severe £15,320 to £43,060
Psychiatric Damage Generally Severe £54,830 to £115,730
Psychiatric Damage Generally Moderately Severe £19,070 to £54,830
Psychiatric Damage Generally Moderate £5,860 to £19,070
Psychiatric Damage Generally Less Severe Up to £5,860
Bowels Injury Permanent Damage Up to £184,200
Mental Anguish When you think your injuries may reduce your life span or even lead to your death £4,670

No Win No Fee Midwife Negligence claims

If you are considering making a pregnancy negligence claim, one of our medical negligence solicitors may be able to help you with your case on a No Win No Fee basis with a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).

Some of the benefits of making a claim under this type of arrangement include:

  • Not having to pay anything upfront to your solicitor for them to start working on your claim.
  • No service fees during the process of your claim.
  • Not having to pay your solicitor for their services if the claim is unsuccessful.

If your claim is successful, your solicitor deducts a success fee from your settlement. This success fee is subjected to a legal cap.

Get in touch if you have any other questions about midwife negligence claims, or to see if you could be eligible to work with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.

You can get in touch with our advisors by:

  • Calling our 24/7 advice line on 0800 073 8804
  • Using our live chat pop-up.
  • Completing our ‘claim online’ form for a callback.

Helpful Links

Birth Complications

This NHS page shows more on complications in birth

Injury in Birth Claims

This detailed guide offers more information on childbirth claims

Other Useful Compensation Guides

If you have further questions, such as “what is midwife negligence?” and “how much compensation could I receive?” please contact our team of advisors at a time that works for you. They provide free legal advice and can also connect you with a specialised No Win No Fee solicitor who could help you receive compensation. 

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