Delays in Diagnosing Uterine Inversion Results in Death of Mother

Beth Heath, partner & Head of Medical Negligence Department for Lanyon Bowdler was instructed by Mr & Mrs T to bring a clinical negligence claim for damages in respect of their daughter’s death, shortly after the birth of her first child in December 2017.

This was a high profile case arising out of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust maternity scandal and involved one of the original families included in the Donna Ockenden Review.

Mr and Mrs T’s daughter, P, initially planned to deliver at the Princess Royal Hospital Consultant Unit and had requested a water birth. However, her place of birth was changed on P’s due date to the stand-alone Midwife Led Unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. There was no evidence that a discussion with her as to the risks associated with this had taken place, namely that no obstetric doctors would be available onsite and, if obstetric input was required there would be a 50 minute transfer time to the Princess Royal Hospital.

P delivered her daughter, S, and subsequently suffered a uterine inversion which is an obstetric emergency. There were delays in diagnosing this and transferring her to the Princess Royal Hospital, resulting in a deterioration in P’s condition and further delays in taking her to theatre. A life-saving hysterectomy was performed but P subsequently suffered two cardiac arrests and died later that day.

P’s death was understandably devastating for the family and care for S was shared within the family.

Two independent investigations were commissioned in regards to this case, both of which were damning. Nevertheless, the Trust did not respond to a Letter of Notification and denied most of the allegations in the subsequent Letter of Claim.

These denials were robustly challenged and after further consideration, the Trust made full admissions in February 2023.

The family were keen to settle the case and gain closure to allow them to grieve the loss of P. The case was valued swiftly with a view to settling the matter promptly for the family and a Joint Settlement Meeting arranged with the Defendant.

The claim settled the afternoon before the scheduled settlement meeting, therefore the family did not need to attend lengthy and difficult settlement negotiations. S is now seven years old and the settlement achieved provides her with provision and security for the future.