Recent reports highlight a notable rise in birth trauma incidents across England.
- Hudgell Solicitors reports a significant surge in inquiries related to birth injuries.
- The All-Party Parliamentary Group is investigating these rising cases of birth trauma.
- Concerns over NHS maternity care prompt calls for a statutory public inquiry.
- There’s a pressing need for reforms to ensure the safety and well-being of mothers and infants.
Hudgell Solicitors has observed a marked increase in birth trauma cases, prompting calls for comprehensive inquiry into maternity services. The firm presented its findings to a parliamentary inquiry, highlighting the continuous rise in clients citing inadequate NHS maternity care. According to Maria Repanos, head of clinical negligence at Hudgell’s Manchester office, the surge in inquiries during 2020 and 2021 resulted in a significant number of successful settlements.
Repanos advocated for a statutory public inquiry, emphasising that such a measure is essential to instigate lasting change in the maternity sector. She stressed that current efforts by the NHS to improve maternity safety fall short, and a public inquiry is crucial to prevent avoidable harms to mothers and infants in the future.
Investigations like those by Donna Ockenden have already identified shortcomings in basic elements of care within numerous maternity units. The APPG on birth trauma is currently exploring the factors contributing to these incidents and is tasked with formulating policy recommendations to mitigate birth trauma rates.
Research indicates that a significant portion of women experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth, with 25,000 to 30,000 cases annually in the UK. Additionally, one in three women find some aspects of childbirth traumatic, with 53% of those affected being less inclined to have further children due to their experiences.
Hudgell Solicitors’ submission includes personal accounts from more than 20 women who faced birth trauma, underscoring the severe physical and emotional toll of such experiences. One mother shared her ordeal of undergoing an emergency hysterectomy due to medical oversights, highlighting the need for consistent and reliable maternity care. These stories reflect a broader systemic issue in NHS services that a public inquiry could address.
The need for a statutory public inquiry into maternity care is more crucial than ever to safeguard future generations against avoidable trauma.
