£50,000 Stillbirth Settlement Secured After Antenatal Failings at London Hospital | Baby Loss Awareness Week

For Every Birth. For Every Baby. For Every Family.

“Handling cases of this nature requires a profound level of empathy and understanding. The psychological trauma experienced by parents is immeasurable and must be approached with great sensitivity.”

Victoria Plesca, Associate & Birth Injury Lawyer

Background 

Our client fell pregnant with her third child and received her antenatal care at her local hospital as she had done with her two older children. She thought that everything was progressing well until very late in her pregnancy she suddenly noticed, for the first time, that her unborn baby had stopped moving.   

The client went straight to hospital and was told that no heartbeat could be found for her baby daughter. She delivered her stillborn daughter two days later.     

Investigation 

The hospital had carried out their own internal investigation that had found numerous failings in the standard of antenatal care our client had received; in particular, that the midwives had not followed up the baby’s irregular growth patterns which had indicated (like our client’s two other children) that her baby was very small for its gestational age.   

The hospital’s investigation report concluded that the baby was likely in distress and should have been delivered earlier which would have avoided the stillbirth which was associated with an infection and the small baby’s inability to fight this off.  

Based on this investigation report, we sent a detailed letter setting out the allegations of sub-standard antenatal care to the hospital’s lawyers. They subsequently agreed that our client’s antenatal care fell below the required reasonable level so our investigation then focused on how much compensation she should receive.  

Our client was seen by a consultant psychiatrist who reported that she had suffered a psychiatric injury as a result of the stillbirth.  Because of this psychiatric injury she had lost out on a promotion at work and an increase in her salary. She had also become a lot more reliant on the emotional care and support of her husband.    

Settlement  

A Schedule of Loss setting out the different awards of compensation was served on the Hospital Trust.  Settlement negotiations took place and a figure of £50,000 was agreed.  

No amount of compensation can ever take back the loss of a child but our client felt that her concerns about her antenatal care had been properly addressed and validated though the medical negligence investigation and by the hospital agreeing that they were at fault for the stillbirth. The compensation money received will be used for the benefit of our client’s other children as a legacy to their lost sister.    

Client Comments  

“As many others have already said, the team is passionate, driven, professional yet approachable. We are very grateful he represented us during such a difficult time.”  

How we can help you   

At Fletchers Solicitors, our dedicated and sensitive team has extensive experience supporting families through stillbirth claims. If you’ve been affected, we’re here to listen and help you explore whether you have a claim. Get in touch.