Failure to remove placenta at caesarean section leading to post-partum haemorrhage

Our claimant’s case was that a large piece of retained placenta was negligently missed during her daughter’s birth by caesarean section. The failure to detect and remove it resulted in continuing bleeding and pain over the next few days, an emergency return to theatre, a delayed discharge home from hospital, a very distressing readmission to hospital, and significant psychological symptoms.

We successfully alleged that our client’s uterine cavity could not have been checked properly after delivery of her daughter for such significant volume of placenta - which measured 7 x 4 x 3cm - to have been retained. This resulted in our client suffering a post-partum haemorrhage, emergency surgical evacuation of the retained products of conception, the insertion of a Bakri balloon to control post-partum bleeding, blood transfusions and a psychiatric injury.

Following a liability investigation and with the support of gynaecological expert evidence, liability was conceded. Calculation of the past losses claim was quite involved in that our client had planned to study alongside her NHS clinical commitments to achieve a consultancy post.

Unfortunately, she was unable to do that as a result of her psychiatric injury. Although she continued to work, she only returned to part time work when she had planned to return full time. She also moved from NHS to private locum work, lost out on three years of funded study, and her career progression was delayed. Her loss of earnings and pension needed very careful analysis and calculation and, following negotiations, the claim was settled at £41,500 damages.

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