NHS faces £90bn bill for ‘staggering’ maternity blunders

The NHS faces a record £90 billion maternity bill, The Telegraph can reveal ahead of a “harrowing” report into failings at East Kent Hospitals Trust.

Official figures show the number of claims have risen by almost one quarter in just two years following a series of scandals. 

The data show 1,243 maternity negligence claims in 2021/22 - up from 1,015 in 2019/20. 

Safety campaigners said the figures were “staggering” - with £90 billion now set aside to cover the costs of claims.

It means that in total, 70% of total liability provision for NHS negligence is associated with failings in pregnancy and childbirth, amid rising claims. 

The figure - equivalent to two-thirds of the NHS annual budget - represents an estimate for the total costs if all claims it expects to settle were paid out, at today’s prices.

An NHS spokesperson said: “Despite improvements to maternity services over the last decade – with significantly fewer stillbirths and neonatal deaths – we know that further action is needed to ensure safe care for all women, babies and their families.

“The NHS is ensuring that work is already underway to make these improvements, including a £127 million investment this year to boost the maternity workforce, strengthen leadership and increase neonatal cot capacity – which is on top of an annual boost of £95 million for staff recruitment and training announced last year.”

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Source: The Telegraph, 18 October 2022