“Birth Injury Claims Becoming More Expensive for NHS,” Says Asons

Birthing injuries can lead to tragic consequences for the mother and child involved; but after continued work in trying to reduce the number of birth injury claims, it appears that the same medical errors are still being made.

Birth injury solicitors and watchdogs across the UK have been working to aid those who have been affected, but despite their best efforts, the errors that lead to these injuries are still occurring, according to a report published by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA).

The report found that there were 5,087 maternity claims between 2000 and 2010, which are among the most expensive medical negligence claims that are dealt with by NHSLA. Future care costs are only increasing, making birth injury claims an expensive burden to the NHS; where maternity care claims over the past decade have seen the NHS landed with a £3.1bn legal bill.Commenting on the report, the

Asons Principal, Mr Kamran Akram, said that:
“Birthing injuries are awful, child birth alone is traumatic, but for complications to occur during or after, can make life almost unbearable for some people. The most common birth injury claims are those regarding labour management accounting for 14% of cases, followed by caesarean section claims at 13% and cerebral palsy claims at 11%. The problem is, that despite the best efforts of those outside the NHS, these problems are still occurring”.

In addition to the claim types above, the NHS has also been landed with a total of 83 maternity claims, worth £9m in total, involving drug errors.

The report, developed by the NHSLA, has recommended that ’risk management be improved at all levels’ - where NHS organisations should be screening claims and complaints to spot patterns or recurring errors.

“Reports like these are vital, and our work helps to hold medical authorities and practitioners accountable for their negligent medical practice; but until the NHS begins to improve their standards, other women and children will still be at risk. We’re currently supporting a number of parents with cerebral palsy claims, to secure their children’s’ future, where preventable medical errors have resulted in life-long disability” says Mr Akram.

Unfortunately justice can take a long time to be served. The NHSLA report shows that settled birth injury claims, from time of incident to resolution, take an average of 4.32 years. Whilst complex claims worth over £1m can take an average of 8.57 years to be resolved.

If you have suffered as a result of negligent maternal treatment, you may be entitled to make a birth injury claim. To find out more on how Asons can help, visit their website today, or you can contact their birth injury helpline on 0844 850 1062. 

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About Asons Solicitors:
Asons Solicitors is a Bolton-based law practice that specialises in personal injury and industrial disease claims. Founded by brothers Imran Akram and Kamran Akram, Asons Solicitors has developed to become a young and dynamic law firm that delivers practical solutions to clients in times of difficulty. Their continued focus on their staff has seen them awarded with the Investors in People “Gold Award”; which is reflected in the professional and personable approach they take in working with clients. They strive to grow and to develop, and their supportiveness and attention to detail ensures that their clients use them time and again.

For further information contact:
Email: info@asons.co.uk
Website: www.asons.co.uk

Contact Information

Imran Akram

Managing Director

Asons Solicitors

(44) 0844 850 1062

imran.akram@asons.co.uk