Woman secures settlement after failure to diagnose childbirth injuries

Brittany Dryden suffered a 3cm tear to her perineum during the birth of her first son in 2016, at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, which was not repaired at the time. The injury left her without proper control of her bowels - but despite repeatedly raising concerns, she was told that this was normal and to be expected after childbirth.

After the birth of her second son at the same hospital in 2018, her symptoms became much worse – but while medical reports detailed the impact as being “severe and disabling”, Brittany was still waiting to see a specialist surgeon 18 months after the birth. She was forced to use insurance to pay for private healthcare.

The 41-year-old is awaiting surgery to help with her incontinence, which will result in her having to use a stoma.

University Hospitals Sussex, which manages the Royal Sussex – whose maternity unit is rated as ‘inadequate’ – admitted failing to repair the third-degree tear Brittany suffered and has now settled the claim she made against them for the poor standards of care they gave her, with support from law firm Slater and Gordon.

As a result of her devastating experience, Brittany is now a passionate advocate for the need for better standards of maternity care, and more support and compassion for new mothers in raising their concerns.

“No-one wanted to talk to me about my symptoms, let alone look at my injury, because it’s an uncomfortable topic in an intimate area. But really, we need to be making women aware well before the birth what complications may exist and what to look out for,” says Brittany, who lives in Brighton.

“We need to be examining new mothers properly and listening to their concerns. I was scared and asked for more pain medication, but was told that it’s just what it feels like after birth, and I was not examined.

“But if they had taken just an extra moment for a scared new mum to allay her fears, they may have seen what had happened to me and been able to prevent all of this. Worst case scenario, they gave good bedside manner to a nervous new mum. Best case, they are able to catch something early that is treatable.

“Because of what happened to me, I feel shame and resentment and insecurity because the part of me that makes me a woman will never be the same. Had it been caught, it’s likely I would have healed. I used to love my body, but now I just want to hide away. I feel completely broken by everything I have been through.

“I want women to remember that if something feels wrong, then shout about it, be insistent that they examine you. I tried to be really friendly in raising my concerns and accepted the advice of the professionals, but look where that got me.

“If you think something may be wrong, then make sure they listen to you, no matter how much of an inconvenience or troublemaker you are made to feel. One moment of embarrassment is better than a lifetime of it.”

Brittany gave birth to her first son in September 2016, after which a 2cm tear was found in an examination by midwives and repaired. However, a more significant injury remained undetected.

The issue was only fully explained to Brittany once she was referred to specialists in London years later, despite raising concerns about her symptoms on many occasions.

“I felt like I was crazy. I kept saying this can’t be normal, but was reassured this is what happens in childbirth,” says Brittany.

“There was essentially a gaping hole in my body that no-one found because I wasn’t examined properly, but I was told later by a specialist gynaecological doctor that it was so obvious it would have been as plain to see as the nose on their face. But no-one checked.”

Brittany was supported in securing a settlement from University Hospitals Sussex by Nisha Sharma, principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon.

“The care Brittany received was absolutely unacceptable and the impact on her life has been devastating,” says Nisha.

“Time and again we hear the same themes of women who place their trust in maternity teams, but are dismissed and gaslit when they raise their very legitimate concerns. This is a truly horrific situation for any new mother to face, but tragically it is all too common a scenario.

“We are very pleased to have supported Brittany in her action against University Hospitals Sussex. No woman should ever have to put up with such poor standards of care, and Brittany is a powerful advocate in her quest to make a difference and change the maternity experience for others.”