The clinical negligence team at Harding Evans Solicitors are already supporting families who have experienced trauma through poor maternity care. If you or your baby were affected, you may be entitled to compensation for NHS maternity negligence.
In this blog, Partner and co-head of our clinical negligence department, Sara Haf Uren, discusses:
On 23 June 2025, the UK government launched a national NHS maternity and neonatal care investigation into the failures at some of England’s biggest and worst performing hospital trusts as a result of a series of tragic and avoidable deaths, including Trusts in Leeds, Gloucester, Essex, Sussex, Nottingham, Mid and South Essex.
According to gov.uk, the inquiry aims “to provide truth to families suffering harm and urgently improve care and safety” with the government committing to a full report by December 2025.
The immediate catalyst for the inquiry was a series of recent maternity scandals which resulted in fines for involved Trusts and damning public reports. High-profile scandals include the fine levied against the Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, the 2022 Ockenden Report which exposed hundreds of tragic stillbirths, neonatal deaths and serious injuries under the Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust and the maternity services in Leeds which were found to be “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission due to unsafe practices and chronic staffing shortages.
The most recent investigation will look to consolidate over 15 years of failings and focus on systemic issues such as, understaffing, racial discrimination, missed risk factors in pregnancy and labour, delayed caesarean sections and lack of attention to mothers’ concerns.
This national investigation marks a turning point in accountability for NHS childbirth care in respect of historic and repeated failures in maternity care which will include powerful evidence from those affected and will aim to create a national action plan to restore patient safety and trust in the NHS maternity services.
These cases are sadly not isolated and our specialised clinical negligence team has worked with individuals and families affected by similar shortcomings.
Can I Claim for NHS Maternity Negligence?
Yes. If your baby has suffered an avoidable injury, or you experienced trauma, delayed care, or loss during labour or pregnancy, you may be able to make a clinical negligence injury compensation claim.
Our specialist team can help if:
- There was delayed diagnosis of complications in pregnancy.
- Staff failed to act on warning signs such as bleeding and pain.
- You were not informed about birth options.
- You experienced poor supervision and communication breakdown.
- Poor care caused emotional or physical injury to you or your child.
The NHS maternity scandal is no longer confined to one or two hospitals, it is a national crisis. The current investigation provides a crucial opportunity for families to access the truth and justice
If you have concerns about the care you or your baby received, our experienced clinical negligence team are here to help. Contact us today.
Read the government’s full investigation announcement
