Three hospital trusts in Greater Manchester have collectively paid out nearly £6 million in compensation for birth injuries sustained by mothers and babies during childbirth.
In a report published by MEN, details of payments to NHS Trusts in the Greater Manchester area covering the last two years for birth injuries
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, managing Tameside Hospital, accounted for £3,802,500 in compensation for birth injury claims between November 2021 and November 2023, with a birth injury rate of 394 injuries per 1,000 deliveries during that period.
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL), responsible for the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, disbursed £1,567,000 in compensation to patients who experienced birth injuries under the trust’s maternity care during the same timeframe. Additionally, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, overseeing the Royal Bolton Hospital, paid out a total of £620,178 for birth injuries between November 2021 and November 2023. Of this amount, £191,500 was allocated for injuries to babies, while £428,678 was designated for injuries to mothers.
A spokesperson for WWL said:
“The safety and care for our patients is the trust’s number one priority and we pride ourselves on our high standards, compassion and understanding within our maternity services.
Whilst we are not able to comment on individual cases, our priority when incidents do occur, is to conduct a thorough, open, and transparent investigation with our patients and their families to support and identify any lessons that we can learn to improve the care we deliver.
For those incidents, the Trust has accepted responsibility and apologises to the patients involved for the distress and injury caused.”
When the original FOI released to the MEN was found to be inaccurate, a spokesperson for WWL told the MEN.
“The figures were drawn form a Freedom of Information (FOI) response issued by the trust.
However, due to human error, there were inaccuracies with the data provided.”
The significant compensation payouts made by Greater Manchester Hospital Trusts over the past two years underscore the importance of addressing and mitigating birth injuries during childbirth. With Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, WWL and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust all facing substantial financial obligations due to birth injury claims, it is evident that there are ongoing challenges within maternity care that require attention and improvement.
While Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust have chosen not to provide statements to the MEN, WWL has reiterated its commitment to patient safety and the delivery of high-quality care.
As these trusts navigate the complexities of addressing birth injuries and strive to enhance maternity services, all stakeholders must collaborate, learn from past incidents, and implement measures to prevent future occurrences. Ultimately, the well-being of mothers and babies remains paramount, and efforts to ensure safe and effective childbirth experiences must continue unabated.
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