Blog
Civil Fraud Case Update: Q3 2025
Mary Young
30 September 2025
Where Every Minute Counts: Hypoxic Birth Injuries – Causation and Material Contribution
Legal claims for hypoxic brain injuries during birth – caused by a disruption in oxygen supply - remain prevalent. These injuries can have a devastating impact and lead to lifelong conditions including Cerebral Palsy. Indeed, claims relating to brain injuries sustained during birth account for a significant percentage of the total value of clinical negligence damages paid out each year. This is because the average amount of damages for such cases is very high, not infrequently running to tens of millions of pounds, with some impacted children having lifelong needs for care, treatment, equipment and housing. Nonetheless, claims for clinical negligence in this area can be particularly thorny to prove. In this article I consider when the doctrine of ‘material contribution’ – said by the Court of Appeal to have been ‘bedevilled by apparent inconsistency’ – may apply to hypoxic birth injury cases where the window for avoiding injury can be short. Does every minute really count?
17 September 2025
14 Maternity Trusts to be Scrutinised as Part of National Investigation
The Government has this week confirmed the names of 14 Hospital Trusts that will be part of a rapid national investigation of maternity and newborn baby care across England that was announced by Wes Streeting back in June. (See my colleague Sharon Burkill’s blog on that announcement here). I am carefully watching the developments with regard to this investigation, knowing full well from my clients and their stories how desperately improvements to our maternity services are needed.
2 September 2025
HSSIB contributes to the national investigation into maternity and neonatal services – but will change ever be implemented?
The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) has shared insights into safety concerns raised by women and families and other stakeholders about maternity and neonatal care within NHS England, highlighting once again the need for meaningful change.
23 July 2025
NHSR Annual Report: Clinical Negligence under the spotlight
Each year NHS Resolution, the body dealing with legal claims against the NHS, produces a report which provides insights into what is happening with clinical negligence claims. This year the picture is very mixed. It shows that claims for clinical negligence are on the rise although more cases are being settled without the need for Court proceedings. Nonetheless, despite Government efforts, high levels of maternity cases and associated costs persist.
25 June 2025
Is this the turning point for maternity care?
Concerns over NHS maternity care are very sadly seldom out of the news. As a lawyer who has specialised in birth injury claims over many years, it has been all too clear to me for a long time, that far too many women and babies, fail to receive anywhere close to adequate maternity care leading in some instances to devastating outcomes.