235m medical negligence bill for NHS after mistakes leave babies brain damaged
by Leo T. Barlow
Hospital blunders that left a large number of newborn babies brain damaged are set to cost the NHS 235 million, official NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) figures show. The figure is set to cover compensation and legal costs of 60 cases in which maternity staff failed to notice low blood sugar levels in new born babies, leaving them brain damaged or in the case of two claims, dead.
A total of 235.4 million has been set aside by NHS lawyers for claims where negligence by maternity staff left 60 babies brain damaged or with other complications. Aside from brain damage, one of the other main effects of these negligence claims was Erb's palsy, a serious arm injury.
These figures cover the last ten years. Over the decade, the NHSLA received 79 claims of injury caused by untreated or undetected hypoglycaemia; 19 of these claims were closed without compensation. Out of the remaining 60, 19 have already been paid damages of between 300,000 and 7 million, with it revealed that at least 6 million has been paid to seven of these claimants. The NHS is now defending the remaining 41 claimants, according to the Guardian who have obtained these startling figures.
Neonatal hypoglycaemia is a rare condition, affecting between just one and three of every 1,000 babies. However, as the chief executive of the patient safety group, Action Against Medical Accidents, goes onto to state: "Whilst these cases are relatively small in number, the fact the effects are so catastrophic and they are so preventable should make them a 'never' event in the NHS."
According to Walsh, it is the shortage of midwives that is the "biggest factor in these recurring problems of undiagnosed hypoglycaemia". But whilst Angela Kirtley, a medical negligence specialist from Irwin Mitchell lawyers, agrees, she also believes that the further training of current midwives as well as providing more information and support for new mothers when it comes to spotting the warning signs of hypoglycaemia is important to preventing similar injuries or death from occurring in the future.
Speak to an expert about <a href='http://www.medicalclaimsonline.co.uk/'>medical negligence</a> compensation.
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New Unique Article!
Title: 235m medical negligence bill for NHS after mistakes leave babies brain damaged
Author: Leo T. Barlow
Email: uawdir@hotmail.co.uk
Keywords: medical negligence, nhs, health, finance, hospitals, babies, birth
Word Count: 327
Category: Babies
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