How Much Compensation For A Maternity Negligence Claim?

Compensation Amounts For Maternity Or Pregnancy Negligence

The amount of compensation you could receive for a maternity negligence claim will depend on how severely the avoidable harm has affected you physically, emotionally and financially. These effects are divided into two heads of claim – general and special damages.

The first part of your compensation is known as general damages, which aim to compensate you for the physical and emotional effects you’ve suffered due to negligent maternity care.

Factors that can affect the value of general damages include:

• The type and severity of the harm.
• The level of pain and suffering experienced.
• How long the symptoms lasted or are expected to last.
• Any permanent or long-term health effects.
• The psychological impact, including trauma or mental health conditions.
• How your quality of life has been affected.

The value of general damages is usually assessed using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication provides guideline compensation brackets for a range of injuries and illnesses.

Below are some example brackets from the latest JCG relating to types of harm that could potentially be suffered during pregnancy (only the top figure is not from the JCG). These figures are only guidelines, as the final compensation amount will be tailored to the unique circumstances of your maternity negligence claim.

To find out how much compensation you could be entitled to, contact our team for a free, personalised case assessment.

How Is Maternity Negligence Compensation Calculated?

Maternity negligence compensation is calculated by combining general damages (physical and psychological suffering) with special damages, which is the head of claim that covers the financial impact of the harm you have suffered. Special damages aim to restore your financial position as if the negligence had never occurred.

Examples of special damages include:

• Costs of private therapy or counselling to cope with trauma or PTSD.
• Expenses for corrective surgery or additional medical treatment.
• Travel and parking costs for follow-up hospital appointments.
• Domestic help or assistance with daily tasks during your recovery.
• Prescription medication and rehabilitation services.
• Costs of adapting your home or lifestyle due to long-term injuries.

Our medical negligence solicitors will help gather evidence of your financial losses, such as invoices, receipts, and bank statements, to ensure they are included in your claim.

Let us help you recover the maternity negligence compensation you deserve. Get in touch today.

Examples Of Negligent Pregnancy And Maternity Care

 Below are some examples of how negligent maternity or pregnancy care could potentially occur:

• A mother reported reduced foetal movements, but staff failed to carry out appropriate monitoring or scans. As a result, the baby was later diagnosed with brain damage due to prolonged oxygen deprivation in the womb – an outcome that may have been avoided with earlier intervention.
• A midwife failed to identify signs of gestational diabetes during routine check-ups, despite the mother reporting excessive thirst and fatigue. The delayed diagnosis led to complications that could have been avoided with earlier dietary and medical intervention.
• A GP misread the results of a blood test and failed to refer the mother for urgent care. As a result, a serious infection went untreated during pregnancy, causing long-term health issues and unnecessary pain.
• A pregnant woman was prescribed a contraindicated medication, even though her medical history showed a clear allergy. This led to an adverse reaction requiring hospitalisation and caused emotional distress during a critical stage of the pregnancy.
• Hospital staff failed to follow up on abnormal ultrasound findings, including a noted abnormality with the placenta. No further scans were arranged, and the mother experienced sudden and severe complications that could have been anticipated.
• A mother was not advised about the risks of continuing a high-risk pregnancy despite having a history of complications. The lack of proper counselling and risk management led to a worsening of her condition, requiring emergency intervention later in the pregnancy.
• There was a failure to detect and manage pre-eclampsia, despite consistently high blood pressure readings and protein in the mother’s urine. The delayed treatment of the condition caused the mother to suffer seizures and long-term health effects.

In each of these examples, a healthcare professional or team failed to meet the expected standard of care, resulting in serious consequences that could have been avoided with proper attention and timely action.

If you’ve experienced similar negligence during pregnancy or maternity care, speak with our team today to find out how our panel of medical negligence solicitors could help you claim compensation.

The Consequences Of Negligent Maternity Care

When maternity care during pregnancy falls below the expected standard, it can lead to serious and sometimes life-altering complications for the mother and baby. These consequences can arise from delayed diagnoses, incorrect treatments, or a failure to monitor known risks throughout the antenatal period.

Examples of complications that may result from negligent pregnancy care include:

• Brain damage or cerebral palsy in the baby, caused by prolonged oxygen deprivation that could have been detected through proper monitoring
• Pre-eclampsia (IUGR) in the baby, due to failure to identify issues with placental function or blood supply.
• Worsening of gestational diabetes due to missed diagnosis or poor management.
• Development of pre-eclampsia-related complications, including seizures or organ damage, due to lack of monitoring.
• Severe infections caused by untreated urinary tract or other pregnancy-related conditions.
• Psychological trauma or prenatal anxiety disorders due to poor communication or mismanagement of maternal health concerns.
• Allergic reactions or medication side effects from being prescribed contraindicated drugs during pregnancy.
• Undiagnosed placenta previa or other placental issues resulting in bleeding and complications later in the pregnancy.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to failure to assess and manage mobility or clotting risk factors.
• Worsening of pre-existing conditions (e.g. anaemia, high blood pressure) due to inadequate monitoring and intervention.

 Speak with our team now to see whether you can begin a maternity negligence claim for your suffering.