The Guardian view on childbirth and medical negligence: rising payouts highlight the urgency of maternity improvements
The article highlights the concerning rise in medical negligence payouts related to childbirth in England. The National Audit Office estimates the NHS's negligence liabilities at £60 billion, a quadrupling in less than 20 years. While payouts in other medical specialties have declined, those in obstetrics have increased. The high costs are due to the need to cover lifetime care for injured babies. The article also notes that grave shortcomings in maternity care are well-documented, with disparities in outcomes for women from different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. High-profile patient safety scandals, such as those at Morecambe Bay, Shrewsbury and Telford, and East Kent, have underscored the urgent need to improve the quality of maternity services in England.
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