Contemporary difficulties with Erb's Palsy

Despite efforts by charities such as Erb's Palsy Group to reduce the numbers of children born in the UK with this condition, it continues to be a pressing problem for both families and the nation's hospital services, with legal costs for pending negligence claims expected to reach around £100 million.

Even the success of NHS guidelines introduced in 1996 relating to procedures designed to minimise the incidence of the condition is ambiguous. In fact, with 1 in every 2,000 newborns thought to be affected by Erb's Palsy, there can be little doubt that there is no room for complacency.

And the number of birth injury claims relating to this form of brachial plexus injury are going up too, with around 42 being made each year. Although it is difficult to ascertain whether this reflects a growing trend for litigation or a worrying growth in negligence is a moot point, but clinicians, government figures and bureaucrats should certainly receive it as a call to action.

For example, in 2006-2007 the number of brachial plexus birth injury claims made exceeded 300 for the first time in five years. And the situation shows no sign of improving in the immediate future either, as at the time of writing (July 2008) 246 families had claims pending for the condition.

The fact government has set aside around £100 million to meet the costs of these 246 Erb's Palsy claims helps give us some idea of the scale of suffering and disadvantage this clinical negligence injury can inflict on the lives of children and their families - and, indeed, why claiming compensation is usually considered so imperative.

Clinical negligence solicitors
Clinical negligence is a very serious matter. It can affect lives in profound ways and will be particularly disturbing in cases where it causes injury to new life.

Making a birth injury claim can be a difficult process and affected families require the highest standard of legal representation.

There are clinical negligence solicitors on our panel firms who specialise in representing families affected by cases of Erb's Palsy.

All seek to uphold a sensitive and sympathetic approach to their dealings with families, while being firm and thorough in their dealings with the relevant hospital trusts.

We seek to keep costs to a bare minimum and will always clearly inform you of those that are necessarily incurred. And in a won case - as most of ours are - we will return these back to you.

All our solicitors are governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which is something we consider to be a commitment to the very highest level of professionalism.

If you feel you may be entitled to claim compensation, our advisors are happy to talk with you, without obligation.

We can be reached by telephone - 0800 10 757 95, or by you sending us your details on a claim form.