According to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Evening Standard, Health Trusts in London are paying out more than the third of their total compensation payments to victims of Childbirth and Maternity blunders.

The payments include £600,000 to the family of a woman who died shortly after childbirth.  The 34 year old woman, died a few days after giving birth to her daughter at the Kingston Hospital in 2004. Her death resulted from the fact that medical staff hadn’t noticed that she had blood poisoning. Her family were successful in their accident claim.

Figures indicated the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust paid out the most in compensation claims during the financial year 2007/8. Their total compensation bill was reported to total £8.5 million. Similarly, Imperial College NHS Trust paid out £8.2 million during the same period.