Summary:
- The NHS in England is under scrutiny for maternity service safety and negligence-related financial and human costs.
- NHS Resolution paid out £3.1 billion in 2024–2025 for clinical negligence, with maternity claims as a major component.
- Previous years saw similar payouts, particularly due to severe and permanent harm from maternity-related negligence.
- Safety problems persist in maternity units, such as inadequate training and communication failures.
- While the government has a strategic plan for improving maternity safety, progress is hindered by under-resourcing and staff shortages.
- NHS leaders call for investment, procedural and cultural change to restore public trust and improve care.
The National Health Service (NHS) in England continues to face intense scrutiny over the safety of its maternity services, as rising numbers of clinical negligence cases underscore both the human toll and growing financial strain on the system.
According to the latest data released by NHS Resolution, the body responsible for handling compensation claims against the health service, a total of £3.1 billion was paid out during the financial year 2024–2025 across all clinical negligence schemes. While this figure includes a broad range of clinical areas, maternity-related claims are recognized as a particularly significant contributor.
The previous year saw similarly high figures, with NHS Resolution disbursing £2.8 billion to resolve 10,800 claims. Although the data does not isolate maternity cases, legal experts and patient advocates have consistently pointed to maternity failings as a disproportionate contributor to these costs, due to the severity and lifelong nature of the harm that can result.
“In many of these cases, the tragedy is compounded by the sense that it could have been prevented,” said one legal representative involved in a recent maternity negligence claim, referencing instances in which midwives failed to respond adequately to patients’ warnings during labor. In one such case, a family pursued legal action after their newborn died following what they described as failures by hospital staff to heed signs of distress.
The financial burden falls not only on the health system’s balance sheet but also draws public attention to persistent safety challenges across maternity units. A recent episode of the HSJ Health Check podcast examined what it called “the latest safety crisis for maternity care,” pointing to fresh investigations at multiple NHS Trusts. Contributors to the podcast raised concerns about recurring patterns: inadequate staff training, delayed interventions, and breakdowns in communication among clinical teams.
These revelations come amid broader discussions on the future of the health service. A long-term government strategy—designed to reshape the NHS over the next decade—includes a focus on improving maternity outcomes and reducing avoidable harm. However, progress on these fronts has faced obstacles, including staffing shortages, infrastructure deficits, and pressures carried over from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NHS Resolution leaders have acknowledged the need for faster action. In various statements over the past year, officials emphasized that rebuilding trust will require not only investment, but cultural and procedural changes. “We recognise that too often, patients and their families feel they have not been heard,” a spokesperson for NHS Resolution noted in response to questions about ongoing litigation trends.
The financial data and personal stories emerging in recent months are refocusing attention on the human stakes behind abstract cost figures. For many families, the numbers represent life-altering events—and a painful wait for acknowledgment.
As investigations continue and new safety measures are proposed, NHS executives and clinical regulators face mounting calls to prioritise reform in maternity care. The challenge, observers say, lies not just in reducing compensation payouts, but in restoring confidence that maternity wards across the country deliver safe, attentive and compassionate care.
Background:
Here is how this event developed over time:
- July 17, 2025 – The HSJ Health Check podcast aired an episode titled “The latest safety crisis for maternity care,” highlighting ongoing safety concerns in NHS maternity services.
- July 17, 2025 – NHS Resolution reported £3.1 billion in payouts for clinical negligence and associated costs in the 2024/25 period.
- 2023/24 – NHS Resolution previously paid £2.8 billion to settle 10,800 claims, with maternity incidents accounting for a significant portion of the total.
- 2023 – A negligence case emerged where midwives failed to respond to a woman’s concerns during labor, resulting in a baby’s death and subsequent compensation.
- 2023 – The UK government unveiled a £29 billion 10-year health plan aimed at transforming the NHS, including addressing failings in maternity care.