As the numbers of midwives and obstetricians in our hospitals are reduced — and as insurers are unwilling to pick up the tab for the false economy causing the gap — the NHS Litigation Authority will be increasingly called upon to fill the void and subsequently re-direct budgets to pay out compensation instead.
It’s a vicious circle. Clinical negligence, as we have previously reported, is costing the NHS billions. Whilst most agree that this money would be better spent in the creation of new hospitals, updating equipment and employing new staff, it comes as no surprise that due to budget requirements none of this happens.
Of course, such does not really make sense. If you were a business that had already paid out billions in compensation and had a further estimated 11 billion in outstanding negligence claims, you’d invest in your company to improve services – sharpish!
Since 1995, Gynaecology and Obstetrics related claims for clinical negligence have been reported by the NHS Litigation Authority to total 3.3 billion. Reductions in the amount of natural births and an increase in caesareans section, administration of anaesthetics and instrumental births involving forceps all contribute to birth injuries and in some cases death.
We spoke to leading PMI providers Bupa, AXA PPP, InterGlobal, Pru Health and Aviva (Norwich Union) to find out what cover was available to expectant mums.
Aviva’s literature advised that cover included:
◊ Ectopic pregnancy (development of foetus outside the womb)
◊ Miscarriage (if you have miscarried but not investigations into the cause of repeated miscarriages)
◊ Still Birth
◊ Hydatidiform mole (cell growth abnormality in the womb)
◊ Retained Placenta (after birth retained in the womb)
◊ Pre-eclampsia (a condition with a high number of symptoms, including high blood pressure and fluid retention)
◊ Eclampsia (a coma or seizure during pregnancy and following pre-eclampsia)
◊ Diabetes (if diabetes develops during pregnancy but not before)
◊ Caesarean Sections (full clinical details from your specialist are required before a decision can be made about your pregnancy and childbirth)
However, their policy also had a clause:
Benefits for pregnancy and childbirth will only be available for Treatment directly or indirectly arising from or requested in connection with complications of pregnancy and childbirth arising at least ten months from the Date of Entry.
So – unless you have already been a policyholder for at least 10 months prior to any complication – cover is actually zero. That may sound unfair as it does not allow people who find out they are pregnant to buy health insurance to cover them for that period. You can, however, buy car insurance from Aviva after buying the car, home insurance after buying home and pet insurance after buying a pet …
When contacted, Bupa said that as childbirth is a natural process they could only offer assistance to their members in certain instances where direct medical intervention is required, subject to consultant advice.
AXA PPP offers cover on some policies which include pregnancy complications, but nothing specific relating solely to the term of the pregnancy – as general treatment is covered under the NHS.
WAP were more abrupt in their reply, advising in a short email:
“I can confirm that WPA excludes cover for pregnancy/childbirth and related complications.”
Pru Health offer cover for existing policyholders but again only for conditions that require medical intervention.
InterGlobal offers a fully comprehensive maternity policy that runs from conception to childbirth, renewable on a 12-month basis and covering any complications. The maternity policy is offered as an optional add-on to an existing policy but again needs to be in place 12 months prior to any claim. When contacted, InterGlobal said that as the benefit is not required by males and the elderly it can only be included on an existing policy and not taken out as a “stand alone” cover.
What does this say about us as a nation? A lack of concern or public spending on the youth in this country has received widespread media coverage and harsh criticism from charities and aid agencies. Now, with funding and services being cut – and with no private alternatives to choose from – it seems like we are unimportant to our government even from conception. When do we become something worth investing in? When we can vote? Maybe when we can pay taxes?
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