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NHS ‘Errors’ Harmed, Killed Over 1,300 Newborns in Britain in 2014

© Photo : Rex FeaturesNHS operating theatre
NHS operating theatre - Sputnik International
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The UK National Health Service (NHS) has reportedly paid $1.5 billion in pregnancy negligence penalties after over 1,300 newborns were harmed or died in maternity wards in 2014, official figures from NHS litigation authority indicate.

Members of clinical staff complete paperwork in the Accident and Emergency department of the 'Royal Albert Edward Infirmary' in Wigan, north west England on April 2, 2015 - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) Figures obtained by The Times show that the quality of healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth has plummeted across the country over the decade, as annual bills have risen from 488 million pounds (almost $757 million) to one billion pounds ($1.5 billion).

The UK paper cited campaigners familiar with the estimates as saying that UK health authorities have failed to learn from their mistakes, noting that a quarter of payouts came from situations resulting in what the Times termed "basic error."

Campaigners named disagreements between doctors and midwives, and the health authority’s push to increase the percentage of "natural births" using minimal medical assistance as two primary causes behind the worsening statistics.

Some newborns became brain damaged while in NHS care after medical personnel failed to properly monitor their heartbeat, leaving babies starved for oxygen, the Times said. Last year, the health service paid almost 300 million pounds (over $400 million) to parents who must provide round the clock care for children in a vegetative state.

The poor condition of the NHS came to the fore in the run-up to the May 7 UK general elections. Prime Minister David Cameron's ruling Tory party came under fire for allowing national healthcare to slip below legislated standards amid enormous budget cuts.

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