Warning that UK mothers are being threatened with social services for refusing maternity care

Patient advocacy groups have warned that pregnant women and new mothers are being referred to social services by midwives for refusing to follow their advice.

 

According to the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS), expectant parents who have refused are, including opting out of scans, failing to attend antenatal appointments or declining inductions, are among those who have faced threats from healthcare professionals, amounting to coercion.

 

The charity Birthrights says it has also reports about social service referrals more than double in the last year.

 

Maria Booker, programmes director at the charity, said “Referrals to social services are for concerns about how a baby will be cared for after it is born.  They are not a tool for coercing women and birthing people into making different birth choices.”

 

The Royal College of Midwives highlighted the role of the midwife in empowering women to make informed choices during pregnancy and birth.  It said the ability of midwives to impart to parents implications for a particular choice was based on developing trust, but added “Serious shortages of midwives are impacting this ability, with little or no time to develop these important relationships.  This is a huge concern for the RCM.  The reality is pressure on time and resources means communication is sometimes not as clear as it should be and sadly, some women feel their wishes have been ignored.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record.  The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence.  He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims.  Tony also acts as a Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled.  Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk.  Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win, no fee solicitors for free legal advice on Freephone 0800 304 7382