Baby Death Claims
For expert guidance on baby death claims contact our specialist team in confidence by calling 0333 888 0436 or sending an email to us at [email protected]
Avoidable baby deaths in the NHS
Avoidable baby deaths are one of the greatest challenges currently facing the National Health Service. Over the course of the last decade the NHS has been facing mounting criticism about the standard of neonatal care in the UK, with reports suggesting that infant mortality rates here now lag well behind those in EU countries.
Obviously, not all baby deaths can be avoided, but shortcomings in our healthcare system are clearly responsible for an unacceptably large number of deaths every year.
The situation is so worrying that a nationally-commissioned Review is being carried out. Led by an independent chair, Donna Ockenden, the report will focus on identifying areas of concern within maternity care in the wake of the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust baby deaths scandal and will provide information and recommend actions to help improve the safety and quality of maternity care and the handling of concerns.
Where a baby death arises from substandard medical care the parents may wish to consider their legal options. These options include making a compensation claim based on medical negligence law.
Baby death claims allow parents to shine a spotlight on the personal tragedy they have suffered and we support the aims of parents to encourage solicitors to share information in order to identify the systemic causes of avoidable baby death so that steps can be taken to save lives. You can read more about that campaign here.
If a successful claim is made, the parents can recover compensation for their own suffering in terms of a recognised psychiatric injury. Losses and expenses (including funeral expenses) can also be claimed, along with statutory bereavement damages, which are currently set at £11,8000 (June 2023).
Our specialist team is led by medical negligence lawyer Oliver Thorne. Oliver is highly experienced in dealing with birth injury and neonatal claims, and has represented many parents at baby death inquests.
Working alongside Oliver is Caroline Webber-Brown, a solicitor specialising in childbirth and gynaecological cases. Her work in this area has been highlighted by the independent researchers of the Legal 500 publication.
No Win – No Fee funding
We deal with cases on a no win, no fee basis, so you do not need to let worries about legal costs put you off seeking justice.
To talk to one of our medical negligence specialists about baby death claims, call our FREE confidential helpline on 0333 888 0436. Alternatively you can email us at [email protected]