Medical negligence claims against midwives behind NHS figures

Published on 15 Jul 2010 under category: legal

Maternity services were responsible for almost 60 per cent of damages claimed against the NHS last year, according to one industry professional.

The director of the NHS's Litigation Authority told attendees at the Royal College of Midwives annual legal birth conference that midwives were at the centre of many of these cases, Nursing Times has reported.

According to Dr John Mead, some failures in training were behind cases, particularly in stillbirth.

Stillbirth compensation claims amount to around £50,500 in 2008 and 2009, according to the site.

Other professionals present at the gathering pointed out that recent staff reductions and changes to necessary qualifications means that midwives are not adequately trained or skilled to cope with reading equipment.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has recently attempted to address issues with aftercare for stillbirth services.

A study published this week for the RCM called for new services to be developed to address the lack of services for parents who are suffering bereavement, as insufficient aftercare was considered to a major facilitator to distress.

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