Oxford maternity failings: impacted families call for an independent review

With families all over the UK impacted by the ongoing crisis in maternity care, another hospital trust has hit the headlines: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH).  

A group of families has come together to call for an independent inquiry into alleged maternity failings in maternity care at OUH.  

The group, called ‘Families Failed by Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services,’ is made up of over 250 local families, bringing together those who have suffered and/or allegedly suffered harm, injury, or tragic loss due to substandard maternity care.  

Having represented families affected by OUH maternity failings – as well as those affected by similar failings by other trusts across the country – Leigh Day wholeheartedly supports the call for a review.

The impact of medical negligence in pregnancy and childbirth  

When families suffer medical negligence during pregnancy and childbirth, the consequences can be devastating.  

We have seen cases where substandard care has caused severe birth injuries, life-limiting complications, and in some tragic cases, stillbirths or neonatal deaths.

Parents are frequently left traumatised and facing serious challenges.  

Negligence can manifest in many ways during pregnancy and childbirth, including misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose pregnancy complications.  

Poor prenatal care, like insufficient monitoring or failure to address concerns, is another potential form of negligence.  

Poor medication management, either in prescribing or administering medications can also pose a significant risk.  

Poor care during labour and delivery, like a delayed response to complications or a failure to perform necessary interventions (like Caesarean sections), can also lead to birth injuries in both mothers and babies.  

Babies deprived of oxygen during birth may develop serious brain injuries leading to life-changing disabilities, whilst mothers can suffer severe perineal tears which could have been avoided.  

Also, negligent postnatal care can result in complications going unnoticed or untreated.  
The impact of poor maternity care goes beyond the physical – it takes an emotional toll on the entire family.  

Legal support for families affected by OUH maternity failures  

For families affected by any potential medical negligence at OUH, legal support may be needed to help seek justice and obtain appropriate financial compensation.  

The costs associated with birth injuries, like home adaptations, specialist care and education, as well as rehabilitation can be enormous. Bringing a medical negligence claim may be able to ease that burden.  

Leigh Day’s medical negligence team are experts in the field of birth negligence. They have been helping families impacted by failings like those at OUH for more than 35 years, and have a long tradition of campaigning for patient safety and women’s rights in healthcare.  

With midwives on staff, the team is known for its extensive expertise in maternity negligence cases, and compassionate support for families who have been through birth trauma.  

Working together to push for change  

The Families Failed by Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services group have been campaigning for improvements in maternity services after hearing of concerning experiences over a number of years, including those arising from the previous policy of the John Radcliffe Hospital to refuse maternal requests for caesarean sections. These ongoing issues highlight the urgent need for an independent review into maternity care at OUH.  

To facilitate this, the group are taking action and writing to MPs to encourage them to open an inquiry.  

We support everyone calling for systemic change and accountability within the Oxford University Hospitals Trust. Working together is so important to prevent more families from suffering unnecessary harm.

Ceilidh Robertson, Senior Associate Solicitor said: “At Leigh Day we have worked with so many families that have tragically suffered poor maternity care.  We know that families want answers to make sure the same mistakes are not made again. We can see from the many maternity scandals being reported in the UK today, that a significant number of maternity services are failing a significant number of mothers and babies. That is why Leigh Day whole heartedly supports the families who have received poor maternity care at OUH and their campaign to get to the truth.”

How can Leigh Day help  

With maternity services at numerous NHS trusts across the UK subject to independent review, we understand that many families will be concerned about care they received. As leading experts in birth injury and medical negligence, our team may be able to help.  

If you or a loved one needs to speak to someone about their own maternity care, contact us to speak to one of our experts.  

Anyone in need of peer support or wanting to get involved in the campaign can find out more: Medical Negligence Solicitors | London & UK Outreach