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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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If health professionals are to reduce the incidence of injury at birth, then it is necessary that they take stock of all incidents of obstetric medical negligence that lead to compensation claims.
In Wales, one organisation charged with doing this is the Wales Audit Office. The Welsh Audit Office provides people in Wales with audits and inspections of Welsh public services, its mission is "to promote improvement, so that people in Wales benefit from accountable, well-managed public services that offer the best possible value for money".
In 2009 it carried out an inquiry into Welsh maternity services and published a report revealing that between 2003 and 2008 compensation claims for injury at birth, averaged around £28 million a year. Furthermore, a finding that, in 2007-8 birth injury cases accounted for 66% of all medical negligence cases, indicated that there remained vast room for improving the provision and standard of maternity care.
Importantly, the audit office stated that "the culture in some trusts might not be conducive to learning from such incidents," the report said. "For example, staff in five trusts told us they do not get timely and comprehensive feedback following such incidents."
The audit of maternity services addressed some specific issues, with many women expressing concern that they were left alone during and after labour. The standard of postnatal care came under especial scrutiny, with more than one-third of women saying they were unsatisfied with this aspect of maternity provision.
Furthermore, the audit office report called for the Welsh Assembly Government to set out an all-encompassing strategy for Welsh maternity care. It argued that standards were "being undermined by the lack of a clear vision and poor information about the cost and quality of care."
The Auditor General for Wales, Jeremy Colman, commented, "Women in Wales should be able to expect the best level of care when having a baby.
"Whether their pregnancy, labour and postnatal phase is straightforward or whether they need special care, they put their trust in the NHS.
"I hope the Assembly Government and NHS will take on the recommendations and will implement changes to improve the situation."
Claim compensation for an injury sustained at birth
Trauma at birth can cause many different types of damage, including cranial nerve injury, spinal cord injury, brachial plexus injury and intercranial haemorrhage.
Such trauma can seem unbearable and place great emotional strains on families at a time when things should be at their happiest.
Although some injury at birth is unavoidable, most can and should be prevented. It is in such cases that medical negligence lawyers can help affected families claim compensation for past, current and future losses.
Here at YouClaim, we possess a team of some of the UK's finest medical negligence lawyers who have many years experience securing justice for their clients.
If you would like to find out more about how we can help you claim the compensation you deserve, consult a legal advisor in confidence and without obligation by using echat, completing an online claim form or calling us, on 0800 10 757 95.
