GLOUCESTERSHIRE Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust paid out a total of £19,750,223 over the past five years to patients who have lodged claims related to birth injuries.

Figures obtained by Medical Negligence Assist found the highest amount was £9,714,511 in the 2020/21 financial year.

The most common birth injury assigned to claims made against Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust was stillbirths and cerebral palsy, which were the cause of five claims each.

Gareth Lloyd, Medical Negligence Solicitor for legal firm JF Law, said: “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.”

From 2020 to 2025, 42 claims regarding birth injuries were lodged against Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust, 21 of which were settled. The highest number of claims made against the trust came in 2022/23, with a total of 11.

NHS trusts have experienced record levels of legal claims made against them for maternity failings in recent years. In June, the Health Secretary Wes Streeting, ordered a national investigation into “failing” services for women and babies, which classed as many as two-thirds of 131 NHS maternity units as “inadequate” or “requires improvement”.

Gareth Lloyd 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.”