New NHS Programme Aims to Reduce Brain Injuries in Childbirth: What Families Should Know
Written by Mike Shiers | Medical Negligence Team | 13 May 2025
The NHS has announced a new initiative that will be rolled out across maternity services in England later this year. The aim is to reduce the number of babies who suffer brain injuries during childbirth. Known as the Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme, it focuses on improving how maternity teams recognise and respond to emergencies during labour and delivery.
At Nash & Co Solicitors, we welcome every step taken to make childbirth safer for mothers and babies. But we also know that for families already affected by mistakes in maternity care, the impact can be lifelong. This article explains what the ABC programme involves, why it matters, and how we can help if your child has been harmed during birth.
What is the ABC Programme?
The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme has been developed to help maternity staff better recognise when a baby is in distress and take action more quickly during emergencies. It aims to improve:
How fetal distress is identified
The speed and quality of decision-making during labour
Communication between doctors, midwives, and maternity teams during high-pressure situations
Outcomes during complex deliveries, such as emergency caesareans
After a successful pilot across nine NHS hospitals, the programme will be expanded nationally from September 2025.
Why Is It Being Introduced?
Tragically, some babies suffer brain damage during birth due to a lack of oxygen or delayed medical intervention. In 2021 alone, more than 2,400 babies needed care for a brain injury after delivery. That’s the equivalent of around four in every thousand live births.
Many of these incidents are avoidable. Delays in recognising complications, or a failure to act fast enough, can lead to lasting harm. For some families, it means living with the emotional and financial consequences of a child needing lifelong care.
What Difference Will It Make?
The ABC programme brings together several leading organisations, including:
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
The Royal College of Midwives
The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute at the University of Cambridge
It introduces new training and practical tools designed to improve safety and teamworking. During the pilot, staff reported better leadership during emergencies, faster responses, and more confident decision-making.
Importantly, the programme has been shaped with input from both healthcare professionals and families who’ve experienced birth trauma. This is helping ensure the changes are not just clinical, but genuinely meaningful for patients too.
What If You’ve Already Been Affected?
The national rollout of the ABC programme is a positive step forward. But for parents whose children have already been harmed during birth, it comes too late.
At Nash & Co Solicitors, we represent families where things went wrong during labour or delivery. We understand how painful it can be to live with uncertainty, or to suspect that something avoidable may have caused your child’s injury. We’re here to listen, help you understand what happened, and support you in taking the next step.
When Can You Make a Claim?
You may be able to make a medical negligence claim if your child suffered a brain injury that could have been avoided with better care. This includes situations where there were:
Delays in recognising fetal distress
Failure to recognise placental abruption
Slow decision-making during a complicated labour
Failure to carry out an emergency caesarean
Errors in using delivery instruments like forceps or a ventouse
Our team can help you explore what went wrong and whether you may be entitled to compensation. We work with independent medical experts to investigate cases carefully and thoroughly.
Why Choose Nash & Co?
We have years of experience helping families through birth injury claims, including those involving cerebral palsy and other long-term conditions. We take pride in being approachable, clear, and supportive throughout the entire process.
Here’s what you can expect:
A free initial consultation to discuss what happened
A no win, no fee agreement for most claims
Expert guidance from a team that will treat you with compassion and honesty
Clear explanations, without confusing legal jargon
A commitment to helping you secure the compensation and support your child needs
Looking Ahead
The ABC programme is a vital step in improving maternity care, and it could help prevent serious harm to thousands of babies. But it won’t help those already affected by past mistakes.
If you believe your child’s injury was caused by poor care during labour or delivery, it’s important to get expert legal advice. We’re here to talk things through with you, explain your options, and help you move forward.
Get in Touch
If you're worried about what happened during your child’s birth, or you’ve been given a diagnosis that raises questions about the care you received, we’re here to help.
Get in touch by phone or email, and you’ll speak directly to one of our experienced and friendly lawyers straight away. There’s no cost to talk to us, and no obligation to take things further. We simply want to help. Call us on 01752 827085, email medneg@nash.co.uk, or visit our website to find out more.
FAQ’s
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Brain injuries during childbirth are most often linked to a lack of oxygen reaching the baby’s brain, something that can happen if labour is prolonged or if complications aren't recognised or dealt with quickly. In some cases, issues like umbilical cord compression, placental problems, or delays in carrying out an emergency caesarean can all play a role. Tools like forceps or ventouse, if used incorrectly, can also cause trauma. Many of these risks can be managed with the right care. But if action isn’t taken in time, the consequences can be life-changing.
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Yes. If your child suffered a brain injury that may have been caused by poor or delayed care, you may be able to bring a medical negligence claim against the NHS. This involves showing that the care provided was below an acceptable standard and that this led to the injury. These are sensitive cases, and they need careful legal and medical review. Our team will guide you through each step, and most claims are handled on a no win, no fee basis.
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The time limit for bringing a medical negligence claim is usually three years from the date of the injury, or from when you first realised negligence may have occurred. However, for children, the clock doesn’t start ticking until they turn 18, meaning you can usually make a claim up to their 21st birthday. There are exceptions, especially if the child lacks mental capacity. If you’re not sure whether you’re still within the time limit, we can help you find out.
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The Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) programme is a national NHS initiative designed to help maternity teams spot signs of fetal distress more effectively and respond to emergencies more quickly. It aims to improve communication during critical moments, especially during complex or assisted births. The goal is to prevent avoidable brain injuries and improve outcomes for babies across England.
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Not usually. Most medical negligence claims are settled out of court through negotiation. If the NHS accepts responsibility, your solicitor will work to agree a compensation amount that reflects your child’s needs. In a small number of cases where liability is disputed or a fair settlement can’t be reached, the claim may go to court. If that happens, we’ll be by your side throughout and explain exactly what to expect.
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Yes, in many cases you can. Because the time limit for children doesn’t start until their 18th birthday, you often have many years to bring a claim. Even if your child was born some time ago, it’s worth speaking to a solicitor. We can review your case and let you know whether a claim is still possible. We’ve supported families with children of all ages, and we understand how long it can take for the full effects of a birth injury to become clear.
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It’s sadly not unusual for parents to feel that something was wrong during labour, but not be given a clear explanation at the time. You might only realise later that your baby’s injury could have been avoided. If you feel something was missed, or if you were never told why certain decisions were made, we can help you get answers. A birth injury claim often starts with uncovering what really happened — and why.
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A successful claim can do more than just offer financial compensation. It can help pay for therapies, care, and specialist equipment that improves your child’s quality of life. It can also provide security for the future, especially if your child is likely to need lifelong support. Just as importantly, it gives you clarity and recognition — and can help highlight problems in the system so other families don’t go through the same experience.
