NHS faces £2.3bn clinical negligence bill for cerebral palsy claims, highlighting systemic care failings.
Clinical negligence cases in England involving cerebral palsy have cost the NHS £2.3bn in damages and legal costs over the past five years, according to data obtained by Medical Negligence Assist through the Freedom of Information Act.
Between 2019 and 2023, NHS Resolution settled 575 claims related to cerebral palsy, with payouts covering damages, claimant legal costs, and the NHS’s own legal expenses.
In total, there were 1,118 clinical negligence claims during this period for cerebral palsy or brain damage.
Root causes of negligence
The leading causes of these claims included delayed or failed treatment; failure to monitor foetal heart rates; and mismanagement during the second stage of labour.
Cerebral palsy, a lifelong condition that affects movement and coordination, is typically caused by problems with brain development in the womb or brain damage during or shortly after birth. Symptoms range from mild mobility issues to severe disability, requiring extensive care and support.