News
24 May 2013
Obstetric incidents at Furness General Hospital
It was recently reported on the BBC News that more than 30 families have taken legal action against Furness General Hospital in Cumbria, north-west England for numerous baby and maternal deaths and injuries.
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16 May 2013
University College London Hospital fails to diagnose meningitis
Christian became ill whilst out with his family in London, and was taken to University College London Hospital (UCL). Despite his raised temperature and a very high pulse rate, he was not seen for over an hour, and then he was only assessed by a nurse.
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15 May 2013
Tragedy as 1 year old dies after failure to diagnose meningitis
Bobby Bushell tragically died of meningitis after doctors at Doncaster Royal Infirmary failed to diagnose his symptoms, dismissing his mother’s fears as "hysterical".
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14 May 2013
Walking for Helen and Douglas
On Sunday 11 May, Adrian Desmond walked 26 miles on and around the Ridgeway in West Berkshire as part of the 2013 'Walk with me' initiative raising much needed funds in support of the Helen and Douglas House hospices in Oxford.
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13 May 2013
Settlement agreed after baby suffered brain damage due to hypoglycaemia
Richard was born at 36 weeks gestation, and weighed less than average for a baby born that early. However, he was otherwise in good condition. despite this he tragically suffered an irreversible brain injury as a result of hypoglycaemia.
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10 May 2013
Delay in diagnosis of jaundice leads to severe brain injury for baby
In March 2008, Dilraj was born at the Salford Royal Hospital. He was completely healthy. He was discharged, and after a few days, was assessed at home by community midwives who were operating out of Trafford General Hospital.
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03 May 2013
Maternity indicators report published
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has produced a report which highlights a considerable variation in practice and outcomes amongst maternity units in England. It lists a number of indicators which can be used to compare the performance of English maternity units and it is hoped that an annual review of these indicators will help to improve the quality of care.
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01 April 2013
No win, no fee…no deductions?
As of 1st April 2013, Boyes Turner can no longer promise that our clients will receive their compensation in full. Some legal expenses involved in making a medical negligence claim will now, unfortunately, have to be deducted from their compensation.
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13 March 2013
A quarter of stillbirths could be prevented
At the end of last year it was reported in The Times that a quarter of stillbirths could be avoided every year if the NHS had policies in place on how to prevent these devastating incidents.
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21 January 2013
Stillbirths in Wales
The prevention of stillbirth has risen up the agenda in Wales, thanks to lobbying from ‘Sands’ and Welsh bereaved parents according to the Sands website. Sands gave written and oral evidence to the Welsh Health and Social Care Committee’s recent National Enquiry into Stillbirths, which is due to report very soon.
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17 October 2012
Stepping Hill Hospital agree to pay damages to brain damaged child
The parents of a 19 year old man, Zach Petrou, have succeeded in bringing a claim against Stepping Hill hospital for the treatment he received as a baby which left him severely brain damaged. Whilst the hospital have not accepted that they were negligent, they have agreed to pay compensation to Zach.
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25 September 2012
Woman awarded £21k compensation following death of her baby
Mis-diagnosed intra uterine growth restriction (IUGR) results in baby's unnecessary death.
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10 September 2012
£21k compensation for psychiatric injuries following a stillbirth
On 31 May 2007, Miss R was 34 weeks pregnant. She attended the hospital of the defendant trust complaining of reduced fetal movements. Unfortunately an ultrasound scan could not be performed because the delivery suite was busy but it was arranged for the next day. From the ultrasound scan all measurements were noted to be in the normal range.
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10 August 2012
Stillborn twins - failure in care admitted by midwife
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has recently undertaken an investigation into the care provided by a midwife in relation to care provided to a patient (B) who gave birth to stillborn twins in 2008. The midwife was working at The Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.
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07 August 2012
Brain injury after failure to diagnose and treat hypoglycaemia
Five years ago staff at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust failed to act when Lucas Hilliers’ blood sugar levels dropped dangerously low shortly after his birth. As a result, Lucas suffered with a brain injury resulting in a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. This means that Lucas has limited movement in his upper and lower body, severe epilepsy, poor eye sight and his general development is slow.
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12 July 2012
New understanding of paediatric brain injury
In the last ten years, a new understanding of paediatric brain injury and recovery has emerged. Professionals now understand that recovery may be a lifelong process for the child's entire circle of family, friends, and healthcare providers.
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19 June 2012
Hospital error leaves baby unable to walk or talk
Staff at Doncaster Royal Infirmary incorrectly gave a mother a drip containing an artificial hormone used to induce and aid labour.
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18 June 2012
A gross failure to provide basic medical attention
The Cardiff and Vale Coroner Mary Hassell has said it was a gross failure to provide basic medical attention to a mother in childbirth at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales that contributed to the baby’s death.
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28 May 2012
High rate of stillbirth in the UK reported by SANDS
Almost 1 in every 100 births in the UK results in stillbirth or death of a baby in the early weeks of life, according to the Charity SANDS.
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24 May 2012
Death of newborn twins contributed to by morphine overdose
In October 2010 twins Alfie and Harrie McQuillan were born 13 weeks premature at Stafford hospital. They were tragically given an overdose of morphine a few hours later and they died two days after that.
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17 May 2012
Inquest into death of baby at 10 months old - Irreversible brain damage
A mother whose baby died after being deprived of oxygen when he was born has told an inquest that she is "tortured" by the memory of his birth. Her child, Noah Tyler, died at 10 months old after suffering irreversible brain damage at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, a pathologist said.
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16 May 2012
Researchers find that induction cuts the risk of babies dying
A recent study has found that babies born after labour is induced have less risk of dying but a higher risk of admission to a special-care unit.
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14 May 2012
Reports suggest that planned C-sections are 'safer'
Two studies, one from the UK and one from Australia and recently published in the PLoS Medicine journal, suggest that women opting for a C-section after a previous Caesarean delivery are less likely to suffer severe complications.
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01 May 2012
£30k compensation after death of one day old baby
A recent case saw the mother of a new born baby who died within one day of birth due to hypoxia (starvation of oxygen to the brain) receiving £30k compensation after the hospital were accused of a negligent delivery of the child.
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27 April 2012
£82.5k birth negligence compensation obtained for stillbirth of new born
A mother and father were recently awarded £82,500 as a result of psychiatric injuries following the stillbirth of their new born baby in October 2007 through birth negligence.
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19 April 2012
NHSLA to set aside over £200 million for injuries to new born babies
Official figures have revealed that the NHS Litigation Authority will set aside over £200 million to address the claims that have been presented on behalf of babies who have sustained an injury as a result a failure of staff to recognise low blood sugar levels.
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01 March 2012
Legal Aid for birth injury to continue
The Ministry of Justice have released a statement regarding legal aid for birth injury claims. Adrian Desmond, expert birth injury claim lawyer, comments.
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20 January 2012
Child brain damage charity report presented at the House of Commons
The stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands launched its major new report "Preventing Babies’ Deaths: what needs to be done" at the House of Commons on 18 January.
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03 November 2011
Neonatal death after mismanaged birth - £68k compensation awarded
Following the tragic death of a newborn as a result of oxygen starvation at birth, the mother claimed £68k compensation against the hospital for failing to deliver her baby earlier.
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26 August 2011
£150k compensation for stillbirth following delayed caesarean section
A 43 year old woman whose complaint of reduced fetal movement was not acted upon receives £150k after her child was stillborn.
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26 August 2011
Negligent Treatment of a baby leads to death
A sequence of negligence and medical errors led to an emergency caesarean section and death of baby just 8 hours old.
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09 August 2011
£850k compensation for injury causing Erb's Palsy
13 yr old receives £850k compensation for brachial plexus injury from shoulder dystocia during birth.
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05 August 2011
Hospital delays linked to baby deaths
Incidents of newborn baby deaths and stillborns at a NHS hospital leads to an enquiry by the Care Quality Commission.
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01 August 2011
£1m compensation for brain damage suffered during birth
Lack of medical care during childbirth led to a 26 year-old lady receiving £1,000,000 lump sum compensation for brain damage suffered during her birth in 1983.
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05 July 2011
Midwife shortage leads to stillbirth
A shortage of midwives meant a mother was denied proper care leading to stillbirth.
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29 June 2011
Compensation payout for brain damaged baby after neo-natal negligence
The Heart of England NHS Trust agreed a £7m compensation settlement to the family of a child which suffered baby brain damage as a result of hospital negligence. The Heartlands Hospital admitted liability for the negligence in the baby’s care after his birth December 1999, which led to brain damage and cerebral palsy.
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22 June 2011
Goodbye to legal aid
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has today confirmed that it will bring forward legislation immediately for the abolition of legal aid for clinical (i.e. medical) negligence cases.
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20 June 2011
Compensation for negligence that resulted in stillbirth
An NHS trust has settled out of court with a family whose son was stillborn due to poor maternity care at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in October 2009.
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14 April 2011
High rates of stillbirth in the UK - 11 stillborn everyday
Recent headlines suggest that stillbirth rates in the UK are higher than in almost every other high-income country.
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17 February 2011
Newborn baby deaths - Commons debate on inadequate maternity services
A Birmingham MP has led a debate on maternity services in the House of Commons in the wake of an independent inquiry which found that inadequate maternity care potentially caused the death of 21 babies during labour and childbirth in the West Midlands.
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10 February 2011
2 day old baby death after negligent hospital care during labour and delivery
A couple have received a five-figure compensation payout following the death of their baby boy, who was starved of oxygen before being delivered by caesarean section.
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08 February 2011
Negligence during forceps delivery caused brain damage to newborn
An NHS trust has apologised recently to a family after a newborn baby was left brain-damaged and blind in one eye following a forceps delivery.
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17 January 2011
21 babies 'may have died due to poor NHS maternity care'
The deaths of 21 babies within a year may have been caused by 'substandard' NHS maternity care according to a report prepared by the West Midlands Perinatal Institute following investigations into 15 hospitals in the West Midlands.
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14 January 2011
Doctors failed to refer 14 year old suffering from bacterial pneumonia
Morwenna Ganz, who lives in Teddington, was a healthy 14 year old when she fell ill with bacterial pneumonia in December 1999. She is now 25 years old and has won the first part of her London High Court action for compensation.
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14 January 2011
14 month old severely brain damaged baby died from pneumonia
Baby Amaan required constant nursing and feeding through a tube after catastrophic medical errors made during his delivery left him severely disabled. Aged only 14 months, he died from pneumonia after his immune system was left so weak by his brain damage.
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16 November 2010
Premature baby death: 2-day-old twins die at Stafford Hospital
An inquest into their deaths had been opened and adjourned and full post-mortem results are awaited. Stafford Hospital is currently the subject of a public inquiry into previous failings in patient care.
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15 November 2010
Stillborn and newborn baby post-mortem delays criticised
More than 6,500 UK babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth each year and thousands of parents are missing out on the chance to discover why, as a combination of red tape and long waits mean that most parents say no.
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24 October 2010
Welfare Spending Cuts - Will the sick and disabled be affected?
The government’s new four year spending plans will mean one million sick and disabled people who are struggling to find jobs will lose thousands of pounds in benefits a year, forcing many back into work. Here we look at how you may be affected.
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08 September 2010
Failure to diagnose mothers' ruptured scar led to baby's death
£60k in compensation was awarded to a 34 year old woman whose newborn baby died due to hospital negligence. Doctors had failed to diagnose a ruptured abdominal scar and carry out an emergency caesarean section.
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12 August 2010
Six day old baby died after negligent hospital care during labour and delivery
Parents recovered £50k in compensation after their baby died six days after being born.
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12 August 2010
Mismanaged labour and delivery led to death of baby
£30k awarded after their baby died due to medical staff mismanaging the labour and delivery of the baby.
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28 July 2010
Oxford hospital suspends child heart ops after four babies died
An independent report commissioned by the South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) states that child heart surgery will remain suspended at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford until improvements are made.
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27 July 2010
Midwife struck off for death of baby
In November 2005, baby Lily died after a midwife failed to notice a drop in Lily’s heartbeat. As a result Lily was left struggling to survive in her mother’s womb, until a caesarean section was ordered some four hours later.
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26 July 2010
Babies born out of hours at greater risk of dying
The results of a recent study on neonatal death and stillbirths has found that the risk of death for babies born at night or at the weekend is a third higher than for those babies born between 9am and 5pm on Monday to Friday.
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20 July 2010
Stillbirth and neonatal death rate falling
The Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) has published its Perinatal Mortality 2008 report today. Read a summary of the results here.
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16 July 2010
Baby girl dies after hospital failed to diagnose blood poisoning
Nine month old Aleesha Evans died after a doctor failed to diagnose that she was suffering from blood poisoning (septicaemia).
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13 July 2010
Research suggests cooling treatment can reduce baby brain damage
Babies who have been starved of oxygen at birth have much less risk of suffering brain damage if they are given mild hypothermia.
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12 July 2010
Care lacking for bereaved parents
A recent survey commissioned by the stillbirth charity Sands has found that more than half of UK maternity units are still lacking a dedicated bereavement support midwife.
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08 July 2010
Welsh neonatal units are putting premature babies at risk
An assembly health committee report has deemed that vulnerable babies in Wales are at risk from understaffed, ill-equipped and over-crowded hospital facilities.
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26 May 2010
Baby dies after delay in treating hypokalaemia
A Birmingham hospital has apologised to the family of a 14 month old boy for failures that led to his death in October 2008. Elyas Nasserulddin Albana died at Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham because hospital staff failed to treat his low potassium levels (hypokalemia).
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19 May 2010
New guidelines introduced: Jaundice and kernicterus in new born babies
The health watchdog has recommended that all newborns with suspected jaundice should be given a blood test to check for this condition, which can in rare cases be fatal.
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25 April 2010
Baby was stillborn as a result of hospital negligence - £35k compensation
A couple recently received £35k in compensation after their son was still born due to the negligence of hospital staff.
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15 April 2010
Delay in diagnosis and treatment of meningitis left boy with cerebral palsy
A nine-year-old boy has been awarded £2.4 million plus annual payments of £130k until the age of 19 and £200k thereafter for the rest of his life, after an NHS trust admitted liability for causing his cerebral palsy after failing to diagnose and treat his meningitis.
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11 April 2010
Compensation after baby was stillborn due to medical negligence
A couple received £33k in compensation after their baby was stillborn as a result of inadequate fetal monitoring by negligent medical staff.
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23 March 2010
Medical negligence claim against two hospitals following death of baby
A couple were awarded £44k in compensation after their four day old baby died following a series of negligent errors and misjudgements of medical staff at two separate hospitals.
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29 January 2010
Frimley Park Hospital - Failure to diagnose child's meningitis
Medical negligence lawyer Adrian Desmond from Boyes Turner secured judgment against Frimley Park Hospital in Hampshire following the failure by that hospital to treat meningitis in a boy now aged 12.
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