Medical Negligence
Pearson Legal
Full Credential Description
Failures at the Royal Oldham Hospital left both mother and baby suffering from sepsis and the hospital’s breach in duty of care led to a £20,000 medical negligence compensation settlement. Our client, a 24 year old young mother had a healthy pregnancy, her scans and bloods had all been fine during her pregnancy and her antenatal checks and growth scans were reported as normal. When she was just over 39 weeks our client went to hospital when her waters broke, however contractions had not started.
Maternal Early Warning System (MEWS) Is a way of observing pregnant women to facilitate timely recognition, diagnosis and treatment of any issues. When our client reached her due date and was admitted for induction of labour she underwent a series of tests, her MEWS had increased to 3, she had a raised pulse and was given antibiotics due to the prolonged rupture of her membranes. Our client struggled with pain during this long period, at times she was not properly attended and there were delays in treatment.
Our client was taken to intensive care and the baby to neonatal intensive care, both with sepsis. It was later found that our client had an intrauterine infection known as chorioamnionitis which occurs when the membranes that surround the baby in the womb are infected. Our client presented with the symptoms such as fever and a fast heart rate.
Breach of Patient Care We noted that as part of the breach of duty of care our client: Should have been offered an earlier induction Should not have been given preventive antibiotics in the absence of an infection as this is a deviation from guidelines. “As a consequence of failures of care and the significant delay in her induction process our client and her baby both developed sepsis needing specialist care and so missed that lovely time that they should have spent together after birth, what should have been a special time was instead traumatic. Post birth our client has suffered from low mood and anxiety and her anxiety increased with a second pregnancy and developed into PTSD.
Measurable Results
Compensation settlement: £20,000
Qualifications & Expertise
Experienced legal professionals with proven track record in complex cases and client advocacy.