Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Pays Out Over £13m in Birth Injury Claims Since 2020

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has paid out more than £13 million to patients involved in birth injury claims since 2020, according to new figures obtained by Medical Negligence Assist.

Rising Concerns Over Maternity Care

Across the country, maternity services have come under intense scrutiny in recent years, with record numbers of legal claims made against NHS trusts following allegations of substandard care. Many of these cases involve babies and mothers who have died or suffered life-altering injuries.

In June this year, Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a national investigation into what he described as “failing” maternity services. The review found that around two-thirds of 131 NHS maternity units were classed as “inadequate” or “requires improvement”.

Cornwall’s Share of Compensation

From 2020 to 2025, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust faced 51 claims relating to birth injuries, with 21 of those settled. The highest number of claims were recorded in 2021/22 and 2022/23, with 12 in each period.

Figures show the Trust paid out a total of £13,879,294 over the past five years, including £7,499,637 in the 2022/23 financial year alone.

The most common claim types were stillbirths, accounting for seven cases, and fatalities, which made up five.

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“Avoidable Injuries” and Long-Term Impact

Gareth Lloyd, a medical negligence solicitor at legal firm JF Law, said:

“The NHS routinely pays out millions of pounds in compensation every year for entirely avoidable injuries suffered by both mother and baby as a result of substandard maternity care.

If a baby is not delivered correctly, the nature of these injuries can often be life-changing, affecting not only the child but the entire family.”

Gareth added:

“In recent years, there has been a litany of scandals involving poor maternity care across the country, and sadly, in my professional experience, I have seen too many cases where both baby and mother have suffered avoidable harm.

While pursuing a birth injury claim can be emotionally difficult, it’s important to hold healthcare providers accountable and ensure families receive the long-term support their child will need.”

📷Infographic Copyright: MedicalNegligenceAssist.co.uk

National Figures Show Billions in Payouts

According to NHS Resolution data, 5,991 claims for obstetric negligence have been made nationwide since 2020. Of those, 2,955 were settled, with NHS trusts paying out a total of £2.24 billion in compensation.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it had inherited “an unacceptable situation where too many families are suffering from botched care” and that the NHS is “paying billions for its mistakes, rather than fixing them”.

Support for Affected Families

Medical Negligence Assist provides support to patients who believe they have suffered harm as a result of substandard maternity care. They operate a 24-hour helpline and an online claim form, both accessible via their website

📷Infographic Copyright: MedicalNegligenceAssist.co.uk