NHS to spend more to settle lawsuits over negligence during childbirth after court ruling

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Denis Campbell Health policy editorFebruary 18, 2026 at 09:14 PM

Read Original Article

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

A recent UK Supreme Court ruling will likely increase the NHS's expenses in settling childbirth negligence lawsuits. The court decided that children catastrophically injured at birth can claim damages for potential lost future earnings, even if their life expectancy is shortened due to the negligence. This overturns a 40-year-old legal precedent that prevented such claims. The case involved a girl with severe brain damage due to midwife negligence, who was initially denied compensation for lost earnings. Lawyers state this ruling corrects a historical injustice and will result in higher compensation payouts from the NHS in cases where negligence shortens a child's life. The NHS already faces significant liabilities, with medical negligence costs, particularly from childbirth errors, reaching £60 billion.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sheffield 50% Croke v Wiseman ×250% High Court ×360% James Drydale ×370% United Kingdom ×270% Supreme Court ×380% NHS ×590%

Keywords

childbirth negligence 100% nhs 90% lawsuits 80% supreme court ruling 80% compensation 70% lost years damages 70% medical negligence 60% cerebral palsy 50% historic injustice 50% croke v wiseman 40%