Vasa praevia, a preventable birth injury risk

Vasa praevia is a condition that develops in the delivery of about one in 2,500 babies, with the rate being much higher (one in 300) in IVF pregnancies. The condition is also more prevalent in older first-time mothers and those with low-lying placentas. It is caused by either the placental or umbilical blood vessels tearing when a mother's waters break, causing the baby to lose blood supply and, ultimately, oxygen. Tragically, it will cause fatal birth injury in around 95% of all cases.

However, prenatal diagnosis of vasa praevia results in a very good survival rate. In fact, most birthing professionals consider the survival rate to be 100% in cases where there has been a prenatal diagnosis.

Despite the relatively high incidence of the condition and the ability possessed by many hospitals to scan for the condition, the NHS has so far ruled out using the relevant ultrasound technology to scan for the condition, claiming it would place too high a burden on resources.

Professor Stuart Campbell, one of the UK's leading ultrasound specialists believes this is a "scandal" and has called for more to be done to prevent vasa praevia birth injury deaths. "It does not need fancy equipment. In fact, most hospitals in the UK have the colour Doppler scanners you need, but they won't use it on pregnant women. I find it outrageous that in Scotland - the country that invented ultrasound - hospitals are not scanning for this condition," he says.

This does not mean however, that most professionals will not scan for the condition in instances where there are indications a mother-to-be falls into the high risk-factor group. As a spokesperson from the Scottish Executive says, "NHS boards will make further investigations when there are associated risk factors for previously affected women."

But, whatever arguments there may be for discounting routine scanning on the grounds of cost, it is clear that every year in the UK, new lives are wasted that could have been saved with the simple intervention of a routine scan. And, with detection possible as early as 16 weeks into pregnancy, it can only be hoped that the NHS acts soon to ensure that no more families suffer the tragedy and grief of lives lost when technology that is already available to us could so easily have protected them.

Clinical negligence solicitors
As parents and parents-to-be know, once we have children our lives are never again the same. From the day of conception their lives are of paramount importance to us.

But is not only to its parents that a child's life is paramount; obstetric and maternity staff have, in their professional capacity, similar duties when trying to ensure the safe delivery of a new child into the world.

Tragically, instances of clinical negligence still occur every week in the UK. Although no amount of money can ever truly compensate a parent with the loss of or injury to a child, it can at least help with the practical fallout of substandard or negligent medical care.

If you believe that substandard or negligent medical care contributed to your child suffering birth injury during your pregnancy, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

The clinical negligence solicitors on our panel are skilled and sensitive in resolving this kind of case, have an excellent success rate and always strive to keep costs incurred by the client to a minimum.

Our client-first approach means that we always explain any costs in advance, reimburse them in a won case and deliver all awards without any cuts (our 100 percent compensation commitment).

In order to provide the most professional service possible we only every appoint solicitors who are governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

If you wish to make contact with us you can fill out a claim form, use echat or request a callback from us.

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