A settlement has been reached by associate Sarah Elliott, acting on behalf of LR in an action for personal injury against the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, arising from treatment provided to her during the birth of her son at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital.
LR had been booked for maternity care initially under the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and on a number of occasions during her pregnancy she attended hospital due to vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramps. At 24 weeks the decision was made to transfer LR to the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, in the event pre-term delivery was required. A further anomaly scan was carried out where findings were made consistent with placental abruption. A decision to proceed with emergency caesarean section was made.
Following delivery, LR required intervention due to considerable bleeding. It was found that there had been a substantial piece of placental tissue left in the uterus, which was later identified as placenta accreta. As a result, LR was returned to theatre where a full hysterectomy was undertaken; she was provided with 16 units of packed red blood cells, 16 units of fresh frozen plasma, 4 units of platelets and 4 units of cryoprecipitate.
It was found by the medical expert instructed by Worthingtons, that identification of the placental tissue at the time of delivery would have afforded LR with the opportunity to have a hysterectomy at the time of the caesarean section and therefore avoided the further requirement for a second operation, and related psychological trauma. It was further found that on the balance of probabilities this would have avoided significant post-partum hemorrhage.
LR was later diagnosed with Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). It was found by an expert in Intensive Care Medicine instructed on behalf of Worthingtons that as a result of suffering from PICS, LR then acquired a variety of physical, cognitive and psychological problems, which are consequences of both the postpartum hemorrhage and the psychological effects of the PICS critical illness.
Liability was admitted by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and following negotiations between Counsel in early summer 2025, and a settlement was reached which compensated LR for her losses.
If you or someone in your family wishes to enquire about a birth related medical negligence action against the Health and Social Care Trust, please contact Sarah Elliott on 028 9181 1538 or email [email protected] to discuss.
028 9181 1538 