Hospitals across East Lancashire paid out more than £24million in negligence claims in the last five years, according to data from an FOI request.

Company, Legal Expert, submitted freedom of information requests to NHS Resolution – which is the legal body of the NHS. 

According to the data,  Lancashire NHS Trusts have paid out an eye-watering combined total of £97m in negligence claims for childbirth and maternity failings between 2019 and 2023.

A spokesperson for the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board said safe patient care is the highest priority for all NHS trusts across Lancashire

East Lancashire Hospital Trust (ELHT) reportedly paid out £24,561,689 in negligence claims. 27 claims and incidents have been settled and 52 have come to a resolution.

The ELHT manages the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Burnley General Teaching Hospital, Clitheroe Community Hospital, Accrington Victoria Hospital and Pendle Community Hospital.

According to the data, The ELHT has paid out the second highest amount. The top spot was taken by Blackpool Teaching Hospital, which has reportedly paid out £32,361,183 in childbirth and negligence claims.

The Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust, which provides care from Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, Royal Preston Hospital and Specialist Mobility and Rehabilitation Centre in Fulwood, reportedly paid out £19,445,886 in negligence claims.

Across the NHS, there have been 484 claims and incidents relating to babies with brain damage and 342 relating to mother or baby deaths in the last five years

An investigation by Legal Expert has revealed that the five main trusts across the county have had 152 such claims lodged against them since 2019.

The research was conducted in the wake of the UK’s first-ever parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma earlier this year which heard harrowing evidence from 1,300 women. 

Some said they were left in blood-soaked sheets while others said their children had suffered life-changing injuries due to medical negligence. 

Information obtained via Freedom of Information Requests revealed that a total of 152 childbirth and maternity clinical negligence claims and incidents were reported against the trusts to NHS Resolution, which handles negligence cases on behalf of the health service.

Obstetric figures obtained by Legal Expert show that a total of 106 claims have been closed or settled by the trusts between 2019-20 and 2022-23. In the same period, Lancashire NHS Trusts paid a combined total of £97,446,519 in compensation alone. 

Clinical negligence claims and incidents across all NHS Trusts in the last five years include 484 relating to babies with brain damage, 471 stillbirths and 342 mother or baby deaths. 

Of those claims settled, £980 million was spent on compensation for cerebral palsy-related claims and a further £600 million was paid out for claims pertaining to brain damage caused by obstetric negligence. 

The leading cause of negligence according to the claims and incidents reported to NHS Resolution during this time include; Fail/delay in treatment and diagnosis as well as failure to respond to abnormal Fetal Heart Rate. 

Earlier this year, Conservative MP, Theo Clarke and Labour MP, Rosie Duffield co-chaired the UK’s first-ever parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma, calling for an overhaul of maternity and postnatal care after finding poor care is “all-too-frequently tolerated as normal.”

A key recommendation in its report was for a new maternity commissioner who would report directly to the prime minister, along with ensuring safe levels of staffing. 

Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins said: “National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will commission new research into the economic impact of birth trauma.”

But she added that there is “much work to do to deliver on the findings of the report.”

According to NHS Resolution, “maternity claims represent the highest value and second highest number of clinical negligence claims.” 

Legal Expert offers specialist advice and support regarding birth injuries and maternity negligence claims. 

They operate a 24-hour helpline and live chat service which you can access on their website. 

Vanessa Wilson, director of children, young people and maternity for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: “Safe patient care is the highest priority for all NHS trusts across Lancashire and South Cumbria, with robust processes in place to ensure we learn from the experiences of patients if their experience does not meet our high standards.

“Collaborative work is taking place across our maternity and women and children’s services to draw from these experiences and make improvements to the standards and quality of care.”

View the full study at www.legalexpert.co.uk.

The ELHT,  Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust and Blackpool Teaching Hospital have been approached for comment.