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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Josh Halliday North of England editor

NHS facing ‘absolutely shocking’ £27bn bill for maternity failings in England

Composite graphic of babies, pregnant women, a hospital ward and a 'Maternity' sign
The number of legal actions for NHS errors rose to a record of nearly 1,400 a year in 2023. Composite: PA/Alamy/Getty/Guardian Design

The NHS is facing an “absolutely shocking” £27bn bill for maternity failings in England, the Guardian can reveal, after a series of hospital scandals triggered a record level of legal claims.

Hundreds of babies and women have died or suffered life-altering conditions as a result of botched care in NHS trusts across the country in recent years, prompting the government to launch a “rapid” national inquiry.

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