Can I make a compensation claim for a mistake by an NHS midwife?
When a mother is worried about a potential problem with their baby’s health during pregnancy or labour, midwives are often the first professionals they reach out to. However, it’s essential for midwives to involve senior health professionals, like a doctor, if they notice any signs of a problem. Unfortunately, there are cases where mistakes are made by midwives, and this can have devastating consequences.
When a mistake by an NHS midwife is made, then the mother, and often the baby too, will have the right to seek compensation by making a medical negligence claim. Medical negligence on the part of a midwife can take several forms, including:
- medication errors (such as administering the wrong medication or dose, or delaying medication);
- failure to properly monitor the baby’s heart rate and recognise signs of distress; and
- failure to escalate the mother’s care when presenting with signs of pre-eclampsia or placental abruptions.
These failures can have a lifelong effect on both mothers and their babies. For example, the failure to escalate labour after noticing signs of distress in the baby can lead to brain damage or cerebral palsy due to lack of oxygen.
In the event of a mistake by an NHS midwife amounting to medical negligence, the claim is usually made against the NHS Trust, rather than against the midwife personally. This is because it’s the responsibility of the NHS to ensure that the midwife’s standard of care aligns with national guidelines and that midwives have the necessary resources and training to keep mothers and babies safe.
If you or someone you know has experienced problems during pregnancy or labour that may have been caused by a mistake by an NHS midwife, then our team is here to help. We are experienced in handling midwife and birth injury negligence claims nationally. Working on a No Win, No Fee basis, we can assess all the medical records and obtain input from expert medical professionals in the field of midwifery to ensure that your claim has the best possible chance of success.