Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust maternity claims

If your family was harmed by maternity failings at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, you may be entitled to support. The Ockenden Review exposed years of repeated and avoidable harm, leaving many families without answers. Our specialist birth injury solicitors are here to guide you safely, with no pressure and no risk.

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Leanne Devine

Partner, Solicitor and Birth Injury Team Leader

Last Updated

17th July 2026

Can I make a Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust maternity negligence claim?

You may be able to make a claim if you or your baby suffered harm as a result of poor maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) – including at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford or the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Maternity negligence can have devastating and lasting consequences for mothers, babies and families. If you were affected, you deserve support.

The Ockenden Review, published in 2022, examined 1,862 cases spanning almost two decades of maternity care at the trust. It identified serious and repeated failures across antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care, including missed diagnoses of fetal growth restriction, misinterpreted CTG traces, delays in transferring women to the labour ward, failures to escalate concerns, and inadequate bereavement support for families who experienced loss.

In June 2025, the trust was also named as one of 14 NHS organisations subject to a rapid national investigation into maternity and newborn care across England, further highlighting the scale of concern surrounding care at SaTH.

If you think your experience involved any of these failures, or if you have concerns about the care you or your baby received, it is worth speaking to us. In most cases, you have three years from the date of the harm, or from when you became aware of it, to bring a claim, and different rules apply where a child is involved. We will explain what applies to your situation.

Example of a valid claim

Imagine a pregnant woman who repeatedly reported reduced foetal movements, but her concerns were not properly investigated and a CTG showing clear warning signs was not escalated. Her baby was born with a preventable brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation during labour. If the Trust failed to provide the standard of care expected, and this led to the harm, it may form the basis of a valid clinical negligence claim.

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Securing interim payments to ensure early access to support

What compensation can help with

Recovering lost income and securing the future care your family may need.

For many families affected by the failings at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, the impact has been lifechanging, and the support required can be significant. Compensation in maternity negligence cases helps ensure you and your child can access the right care, treatment and support, both now and in the years ahead.

Where a baby has been left with a serious or lifelong injury, compensation can fund the specialist therapies, equipment and longterm care they may need. For mothers who have suffered physical or psychological harm, compensation can help cover treatment, therapy and support to aid recovery.

A successful Shrewsbury and Telford maternity claim may help fund:

Specialist medical treatment and ongoing healthcare
Therapies and rehabilitation
Psychological support for mothers and families
Longterm care and support for a child with a serious injury
Specialist equipment, home adaptations and mobility aids
Loss of earnings for the mother and, where relevant, a family carer
Ongoing therapy costs, including physiotherapy and occupational therapy
Travel and transport costs related to treatment and care
Support from therapists, charities and specialist organisations to help your family rebuild after trauma

Understanding the potential value

We supported a family in a case where a hospital failed to act on clear concerns about their baby’s development, leading to a preventable stillbirth; they received £62,000 in compensation to reflect the failures in care and the impact on their lives. Every situation is different, and we will help you understand what may apply to your circumstances.

Typically, the value of a maternity negligence claim depends on the severity of the harm and the support a family may need in the future.

Understanding interim payments

We understand that families dealing with the aftermath of serious maternity harm often face immediate financial pressures – whether that is the cost of specialist care for a baby with a serious injury, or a mother unable to return to work when planned.

Where possible, we will seek interim payments on your behalf during the claims process, before a final settlement is reached. This can allow your family to access vital care and support much earlier, rather than waiting until the end of the claim. You should not have to wait to get the help you need.

Specialist maternity negligence solicitors

Our team specialises in complex birth injury and maternity negligence claims.

Why choose Fletchers for your Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust claim?

For families affected by maternity negligence at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, it’s often important that they have support which is both expert and compassionate. Maternity negligence cases involving serious harm to a mother or baby need a specialist team with deep experience and genuine care. At Fletchers, our birth injury solicitors focus on complex maternity claims and are recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers for their expertise. We understand the scale of the failings highlighted in the Ockenden Review and have the skill, insight and sensitivity to guide families through cases of this nature.

Expertise you can rely on

Specialist birth injury and maternity negligence solicitors recognised as leaders in this area of law
Ranked among the UK’s top clinical negligence specialists for our work supporting families affected by maternity failings
Extensive experience in complex, highvalue maternity cases including those involving systemic issues within NHS Trusts
Inhouse rehabilitation and wellbeing support to help coordinate the care your family may need
Proven ability to secure interim payments so essential treatment and support can begin sooner
Trusted by families across the UK who have experienced harm in NHS maternity settings
Rated excellent on Trustpilot by the clients we have supported
No win, no fee so you can pursue your claim without financial risk

You're not alone

We understand what you and your family have been through.

When something goes wrong during one of the most important moments of your life, the impact can be far-reaching. If you’ve suffered maternity negligence at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, you may find yourself supporting a child with a serious injury, trying to cope with the physical aftermath of a traumatic birth, or sadly, grieving the loss of your baby. The weight of that experience does not simply fade with time.

We know that maternity negligence can affect every part of life – from bonding and early parenthood to returning to work and managing daytoday responsibilities. It can also have an impact on the wider family, forcing the need to fund specialist equipment, mobility aids and ongoing rehabilitation. These additional financial costs can soon become a burden which feels overwhelming, alongside everything you’re already coping with.

We have supported many families in exactly this position. People who were unsure about their options, who were grieving, or who simply needed someone to listen and take on the hard work on their behalf. What matters most to us is that you feel heard, informed and supported at every stage. No family should have to fight for answers alone.

While we can’t right the wrong you have experienced, we will handle every part of the legal process for you. We will gather evidence, understand what went wrong, and work to secure a compensation packaged that reflects the full impact on your family, so that you can focus on what matters most to you.

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Rehabilitation support

We go beyond legal advice to support you, not just your case, making sure the right care and practical help are in place throughout the compensation claim process.

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We work alongside Fletchers Solicitors’ legal experts – listening carefully to your needs, helping you understand what support is available and creating a personalised recovery plan.

Led by rehabilitation manager Julie Chorlton, we bring together expertise across healthcare, therapy and welfare support, and can help arrange access to treatment and financial support. We also work with accredited mental health professionals, giving you and your family access to counselling quickly.

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FAQs about Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust maternity claims

What is the Ockenden Review?

The Ockenden Review was an independent review of maternity services at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden. Published in 2022, it examined 1,862 cases spanning almost 20 years and identified serious, repeated failures across antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care.

In her final report, Donna Ockenden concluded that SaTH ‘failed to investigate, failed to learn and failed to improve, and therefore often failed to safeguard mothers and their babies at one of the most important times in their lives.’ The review’s findings have led to significant scrutiny of the trust and form part of the backdrop to many of the claims families are now bringing.

How long does a maternity negligence claim take?

Maternity negligence claims – particularly those involving serious injury to a baby – can be complex and may take a number of years to resolve. The timescale depends on the severity of the harm, the amount of medical evidence that needs to be gathered, and whether the trust disputes liability.

We will keep you informed at every stage and work as efficiently as possible on your behalf. Where the financial pressure is immediate, we will look to secure interim payments to support your family during the process.

Can I claim if my baby was stillborn or died shortly after birth?

Yes. Many of the cases examined in the Ockenden Review involved stillbirths or babies who died shortly after birth, often where warning signs were missed or concerns were not acted upon.

If you have experienced this, you may be able to bring a claim. We will review your maternity records, help you understand what happened and advise you sensitively on whether negligence may have played a part.

Can I claim if my concerns were ignored during pregnancy or labour?

Yes. One of the most significant findings of the Ockenden Review was that mothers’ concerns, including reduced movements, severe pain or changes during labour, were often dismissed or not properly investigated.

If you raised concerns that were not taken seriously and harm followed, this may form the basis of a claim. We will help you understand whether the care you received fell below the standard expected.

What evidence is needed to make a claim?

To assess your claim, we will need to look at your medical records – including maternity notes, CTG traces, and any records relating to your baby’s care. We will also instruct independent medical experts to review the care provided and give their opinion on whether it fell below the standard expected.

You do not need to gather this evidence yourself. We will handle the process of obtaining your records and instructing the right experts on your behalf.

How long do I have to make a claim?

In most cases, you have three years from the date of the negligent treatment – or from the date you became aware that negligence may have caused the harm – to bring a claim.

However, different rules apply where a child has been harmed. A child has until their 21st birthday to bring a claim in their own right, meaning time limits are not always as pressing as they might seem.

If you are unsure whether you are still within the time limit, please contact us. We will advise you on your specific situation.

Can I claim if some time has passed since the birth?

Yes, in many cases. The rules around time limits in clinical negligence are not always straightforward, and where a child has been harmed, there can be more time than families expect.

We would always encourage you to get in touch and speak to us, even if you are unsure. We will give you an honest assessment of your position.

What support is offered during my claim?

As well as managing every aspect of the legal process, our team includes in-house rehabilitation and wellbeing specialists who can help coordinate the practical care and support your family needs.

Where possible, we will seek to secure interim payments so that your family can access vital care and treatment during the claim – without waiting for a final settlement.

We will also make sure you are kept informed and supported throughout, so you always know what is happening and what comes next.

Is this a No Win No Fee claim?

Yes. We handle maternity negligence claims on a No Win No Fee basis, which means you can pursue your claim without financial risk. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay our legal fees.

We will explain exactly how this works before you proceed, so you can make a confident, informed decision.