We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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When you are pregnant it is only natural to hope that when you start going into labour, you will be able to give birth to your child in your local hospital of choice. However, each year hundreds of women in the UK find that, because of staff shortages or lack of space at their maternity ward of choice, they are being forced to travel many miles to give birth, with some potentially risking birth injury in the process.
This reality was underlined in 2010 following the release of official figures which detailed how, in 2009, 747 mothers-to-be were turned away from the doors of maternity wards in UK hospitals on account of maternity staff being unable to cope, usually because of overstretched wards.
Jay Francis, from the National Childbirth Trust, comments, "We are not surprised by these figures. Women frequently tell us they are turned away from the units of their choice.
"It is terrifying for a woman to go to her chosen unit in labour and find the doors are closed."
Alarmingly for families in Greater Manchester, nearly 50% of these cases occurred in the metropolitan county. And there are worries that the situation could deteriorate further; four Greater Manchester maternity units were scheduled for funding cuts: Bury, Rochdale, Trafford and Salford.
"There is no doubt that some units are operating at or near their capacity much of the time," commented Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives.
And, although turning away a woman from a maternity unit does not in itself constitute medical negligence, there are fears that it may, in some cases, lead to avoidable birth injury.
A spokesperson with no win, no fee specialist YouClaim comments, "The birth of a new baby is one of the most precious and special times a family will ever experience. All parents to be and their unborn children deserve the best possible care.
"As our solicitors testify, overstretched and understaffed maternity wards can lead to mothers missing out on the maternity care that is vital to the health of both themselves and their children. Even in cases where injury does not develop, the effects of an unhappy and anxiety-making labour can be long-lasting."
Cost free medical negligence claims
At YouClaim, we specialise in representing the compensation claims of families who have been through traumatic births caused by the negligence or substandard care of hospital staff.
Our personal injury solicitors, all leaders in the field of birth injury litigation, have vast experience in securing settlements for deserving families.
Among the types of cases we work on are cerebral palsy claims, pre eclampsia claims, episiotomy claims, maternal and gestational diabetes claims and cases involving wrongful birth.
All our specialists work under the strictures of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and, with many also possessing membership of the Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme, we pride ourselves on professional, effective and sensitive legal service.
To find out more about how we can help you secure the compensation you and your family deserve, echat, complete an online claim form or call us, on 0800 10 757 95.
