Leicester Maternity Negligence

Maternity negligence claims against Leicester Hospitals – How we can help

We can assist in bringing claims against all University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Hospitals, which includes:

Over the years, our highly experienced team, which is ranked in Tier One by the independently researched publication, The Legal 500, has successfully pursued numerous maternity negligence claims against East Midlands hospitals.

The team is led by highly regarded and specialist legal professionals who bring decades of experience to the table. This ensures that when you instruct us to pursue a maternity negligence claim on your behalf, you are placing your trust in some of the industry’s most capable hands.

Our legal experts understand that it can be overwhelming thinking about bringing a maternity negligence claim. The expertise of our team ensures that we will give you the specialist advice and support you need through every step of your claim. We are widely recognised for our adept handling of intricate cases and have a strong track record of securing compensation for our clients.

• CQC inspection into the maternity services at Leicester Hospitals

  There have been numerous reports in recent years concerning serious failings within the maternity services at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. This led to an independent review of Leicester’s maternity units following the deaths of babies.

  In September 2023, the maternity units at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General Hospital were rated inadequate after a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection which took place earlier in 2023.

  Within its inspection, the CQC assessed whether the maternity units were well-led by managers and safe for mothers and their babies.

  It found that care had deteriorated at the units at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General Hospitals. Safety was highlighted as a particular concern for the inspectors. They rated this as inadequate, which is the lowest possible rating from the CQC.

  The inspectors also found that some people had experienced delays in their care of up to six hours as doctors were not available. This resulted in people discharging themselves.

  The CQC’s report also highlighted issues with cleanliness and the age of some equipment used on the units.

• Maternity negligence claims

  Negligence during pregnancy, childbirth, or postnatal care that causes harm to the mother or child may lead to a potential claim. The different types of injuries that can be sustained include:

  • Cerebral palsy
  • Erb’s palsy
  • Stillbirth
  • Injuries to the baby whilst in the Neonatal Unit
  • Neonatal death
  • Damage to the mother’s pelvic area, bowel or bladder
  • Maternal death

  These injuries or conditions could be as a result of:

  • Failure to diagnose complications
  • Errors during delivery
  • Inadequate care during pregnancy
  • Mistakes made by healthcare professionals

  There is a time limit within which a claim must be brought, known as the limitation period. Generally, this is within three years from the date of the incident or when the injury was first discovered. There are exceptions to these time limits, especially in cases involving children, where the three-year period may start from their 18th birthday.

  Successful claims may result in compensation, covering medical expenses, ongoing care costs, loss of earnings, and other related damages. The compensation aims to help alleviate the financial burden caused by the injury.

Our trusted, compassionate and comprehensive service

In addition to their Tier One Legal 500 ranking, our team is also recognised by:

We are one of a few specialist firms that are still able to offer Legal Aid in cases involving babies.

We instruct the most experienced independent medical experts, who will review your medical records and comment on the standard of care that you received and whether this was negligent in causing you injury. We use highly experienced barristers who we may instruct to work with us on your claim.

When it comes to valuing a claim, we often instruct several independent experts who will comment on the nature and extent of your or your baby’s injuries, future prognosis, and short and long-term needs.

Often in these cases, the Court will order that the injured person should receive a lump sum payment of compensation plus an amount each year (periodical payments) for the rest of their life, to ensure that their ongoing needs are met.