In September 2025 the Government named 14 NHS trusts to be examined as part of a rapid, independent national investigation into maternity and care. Chaired by Baroness Valerie Amos, the investigation will place affected women, birthing partners and families at the heart of its work to identify what went wrong and make urgent recommendations to improve safety and care.
At Switalskis, our specialist Medical Negligence team supports families affected by avoidable harm in pregnancy, birth and care. We represent parents and children in birth injury and claims, inquests and public investigations - helping families get answers, secure appropriate redress and push for the changes needed to protect others.
Our specialist Birth Injury claims team, led by Suzanne Munroe , has represented families up and down the country, including Nottingham, Leeds and Shrewsbury.
To speak to one of our specialist birth injury solicitors about your situation in confidence, call us on 0800 1380 458, or contact us through the website.
The rapid national investigation was announced in June 2025 and is intended to review the quality and safety of maternity and newborn care across England. It will look closely at care in 14 selected NHS trusts, which were chosen to reflect geographic spread, trust type, case mix and the diversity of communities served. It will consider how inequalities and organisational culture have contributed to failures of care.
Baroness Valerie Amos was appointed Chair of the investigation in August 2025. Interim recommendations are expected in December 2025, with final national recommendations to follow after the local investigations are complete.
To speak to one of our specialist birth injury solicitors about your situation in confidence, call us on 0800 1380 458 , or contact us through the website .
We understand that taking part in a national investigation can be deeply emotional and, at times, overwhelming. Families may be asked to share their experiences, provide witness statements or evidence, or contribute to shaping the recommendations that will drive change across maternity and services in England. Our role is to ensure your voice is heard, respected and protected throughout the process.
Switalskis represents families affected by failings in maternity and care. We are supporting those whose experiences are being examined as part of the national investigation into 14 hospital trusts. Each family’s story is unique, but together their voices will help shape a safer future for mothers, babies and families.
These trusts were selected using data such as CQC maternity survey results and MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality figures, along with family feedback and a desire for a diverse sampling of trusts. The investigation will build on lessons from earlier local reviews (including Shrewsbury & Telford, East Kent and Morecambe Bay).
We are currently representing or available to advise families affected by care at:
We support families affected by maternity and failures across England. Our work includes:
We offer trauma-informed legal support and can fund many cases under conditional fee (no win, no fee) arrangements.
Our team includes specialists accredited by the Law Society, APIL, Headway and AvMA. These accreditations reflect our commitment to the highest standards in clinical negligence claims.
For decades, we’ve helped families secure the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. The settlements we achieve fund lifelong care, therapies and vital adaptations that make a real difference.
Be supported by a lawyer who listens, cares, and communicates clearly every step of the way. We’ll explain complex issues in plain language so you always feel informed and reassured.
We believe everyone should have access to justice. Many of our cases are funded through “no win, no fee” agreements, so you won’t pay anything unless your claim is successful.
Birth injuries can affect the mother, the baby or both. They often happen during complex or delayed labour, or when medical staff fail to act quickly on warning signs. Understanding how a birth injury was caused is the first step towards getting answers and, if appropriate, making a birth injury negligence claim.
We recognise the numerous challenges mothers may face during childbirth. At Switalskis, we're here to support you with your birth injury case. If you've experienced any form of injury during childbirth, rest assured that we're here for you. Types of birth injuries to the mother include:
Sometimes, a healthcare professional's oversight can result in an injury to your child with long-lasting effects. If your child has suffered any type of birth injury, we're committed to providing the legal support you need. Types of birth injuries to the child include:
In November 2018, baby Leo Thomson was born prematurely by emergency section at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax. Tragically, Leo died just one day later at Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield, after suffering brain damage at birth.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust has been fined £1.6 Million by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after admitting to failing to provide safe treatment for three mothers and three babies who tragically died within months of each other in 2021.
The mother of a young woman born with a brain injury, caused after being starved of oxygen for too long, has spoken of the family’s 25-year struggle for justice. A High Court judge found failings in her care led to a negligent delay in delivery.
A teenage girl with severe physical and learning disabilities has been awarded compensation worth £21.6 million after a London hospital NHS Trust admitted that her injuries could have been avoided if appropriate care had been provided.
The High Court in London has approved a multimillion pound settlement for a man who sustained severe brain injuries at birth. Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust admitted his injuries could have been prevented with proper care.
The inquest into the death of Baby Wynter Andrews concluded with the coroner stating that “obvious neglect” had contributed to Wynter’s death. It is hoped that the findings of the inquest will bring about greater scrutiny and transparency into the practices of NUHT.
Contact us today and let's start your journey towards recovery together. Call us today on 0800 1380 458, or get in touch via our form.
We’re here to simplify the process of making a birth injury claim. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you understand what to expect when making a birth injury claim.
Your journey begins with a simple conversation. Contact us to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation during which we'll listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your options. This meeting will give us a clear picture of what we need to investigate.
Next, our expert legal team will investigate your circumstances. We'll gather and examine all the necessary medical records, consult with medical experts, and review your case thoroughly to understand its strengths and challenges. The aim will be to prove your or your child’s injuries were caused by medical negligence, and work out the potential value of the claim.
Once we have enough evidence, we'll send a letter of claim to the medical professionals involved, outlining the full details of the claim and the evidence supporting it. They'll then have a few months to respond, during which time they can conduct their own investigation and decide whether to accept liability.
Once the defendant has responded to the claim, our negotiations can start. Our expert medical negligence solicitors will negotiate on your behalf, using our expertise and experience to establish who was at fault and secure the highest possible compensation amount for you.
Most claims will be settled through negotiation, and a fair settlement will be agreed upon without needing to go to court. In rare cases, we may need to take your claim to trial. Should this happen with your claim, we will represent you in court and stand by you every step of the way.
If your claim is successful, you'll receive compensation that can cover the costs of care, therapy, equipment and adaptations to housing, ensuring the best possible quality of life for you and your child.
With Switalskis by your side, making a birth injury compensation claim becomes less daunting. We'll guide you through each stage of the process, providing clear advice, empathetic support, and legal expertise every step of the way.
With Switalskis by your side, making a birth injury compensation claim becomes less daunting. We'll guide you through each stage of the process, providing clear advice, empathetic support, and legal expertise every step of the way.
A core participant is someone or an organisation with a significant role or interest in the matters being investigated. For example, someone directly affected by the events, or a person who may face criticism in the final report.
Affected families will be able to share their experiences. Legal representatives can help prepare statements and guide participation.
Being a core participant allows you to:
Switalskis can advise and assist you in applying for core participant status where appropriate.
Most inquiry hearings and evidence are made public to ensure transparency. However, the Chair has discretion to protect the identities of witnesses and survivors where necessary, for example, by granting anonymity or holding parts of the hearing in private.
We will always act to protect your privacy and can request special measures to ensure you feel safe and supported.
In many inquiries, legal representation for survivors and can be funded by the inquiry itself. This means you will not usually have to pay legal fees.
Our team can help you understand what funding is available and guide you through the application process.
Public inquiries are large and complex processes that often take several years to complete. They may release interim reports during their work, followed by a final report which sets out their findings and recommendations.
Throughout the process, our team will keep you informed of key developments and help you engage with the inquiry at every stage.
Interim recommendations are expected in December 2025, with final national recommendations to follow.
Once the inquiry concludes, a final report is published summarising the evidence, findings, and recommendations. These recommendations are not legally binding, but they can lead to significant policy changes and influence future law reform.
For survivors, participation in an inquiry can also be an important step in achieving acknowledgment, accountability, and healing.
A public inquiry itself does not award compensation. However, its findings can help support a separate civil compensation claim.
If you have experiend birth injury, we can advise you on whether you may have grounds to bring a claim for the harm you suffered and how best to do so.
An independent rapid investigation into 14 NHS trusts and the wider maternity system in England, chaired by Baroness Valerie Amos, to identify urgent improvements needed.
Interim recommendations are expected in December 2025, with final national recommendations to follow.
If your child has experienced complications around birth, and you're worried about their development, you may be feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, and looking for answers. You're not alone and support is available.
Neurological damage to the brain around the time of birth or Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) may develop while the baby is descending the birth canal during labour, or the injury may be caused by a lack of care or failure to act in the Neonatal Unit or Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in the days or weeks following birth.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn is part of a national review led by Baroness Valerie Amos to improve maternity and neonatal care, enhance safety, reduce birth injuries, and ensure compassionate, high-quality support for families.
A new report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has once again raised serious concerns about maternity care at both Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital, Burton.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) has been named among 12 trusts in England whose maternity services will be examined as part of a new national review into maternity and neonatal care, announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
At a time when patient safety initiatives such as Martha’s Rule and Jess’ Rule are being introduced, and maternity care across 12 hospital trusts is under review as part of a rapid national investigation into maternity and neonatal services, the Government has published new NHS league tables.
Contact us today and let's start your journey towards recovery together. Call us today on 0800 1380 458, or get in touch via our form.
Experiencing a birth injury can be life-altering and emotionally challenging. In such moments, you need a trusted partner to navigate these unfamiliar and traumatic times. This is where Switalskis steps in.
Birth injury compensation claims can be complex, but your understanding of them doesn’t have to be. We’re committed to breaking down complex legal terms into clear, understandable language. We answer your questions, simplify the complicated, and make sure you fully understand every step of the process.
We take the time to understand you and your unique situation. We listen to your concerns, respect your emotions, and provide thoughtful advice tailored to your needs. You're more than just a client to us - you're a person going through a challenging time, and we're here to lend our full support.
When dealing with something as important as a birth injury compensation claim, you need to know you're in safe hands. At Switalskis, we bring together decades of experience and a proven track record in birth injury claims. We're dedicated to fighting for your rights and achieving the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Many of our lawyers are accredited by both the Law Society and AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents) as recognised specialists in their field
Our team is driven to protect your rights and ensure your voice is heard. We’ll guide you through every step of the claim process, ensuring you're informed and empowered to make the right decisions.
Birth injuries can cast a shadow over what should be one of the happiest times of your life, but remember that you’re not alone. Our legal experts are here to listen, understand your unique circumstances, and fight for the best possible outcome for you and your child.
Contact Switalskis today by calling 0800 1380 458 or get in touch with us through the website to discuss your concerns in confidence with a legal specialist.