"Shockingly poor care" in NHS maternity units has been highlighted by a charity after it revealed the county's hospital trust spent £7.5million in birth injury compensation.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed it paid over £7.5million across a year to families that have been affected by birth injuries. 

A spokesperson for the trust said: "Any incident as a result of an error or poor care is sincerely regrettable."

This includes what is known as 2nd, 3rd and 4th-degree tears suffered by mothers after giving birth, which 926 mothers had at the hospital during the same year.

Second-degree tears affect the muscle of the perineum and skin and usually require stitches but 3rd and 4th-degree tears are often far more serious. 

The data was gathered from a Freedom of Information request during an investigation by Legal Expert, which has now led to the first-ever UK parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals said birth injury payments made during any given period often relate to historical cases and any incidents go against its aim to provide the best and safest care. 

Kim Thomas, CEO of the Birth Trauma Association, said: “We know from what women tell us that experiences of shockingly poor care are also common in the NHS.

"But these women find that they are rarely listened to – often complaints to hospitals are met with attempts to minimise the woman’s trauma and deny responsibility.

“At the moment, a lot of birth injuries go undiagnosed, causing serious problems.

"A third or fourth-degree tear, also known as an anal sphincter tear, can be repaired if diagnosed early enough, but if left untreated, it can leave women with lifelong faecal incontinence, which can be very distressing.”

In response, Stephen Collman, managing director of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Any incident as a result of an error or poor care is sincerely regrettable and goes against our aim to provide the best and safest care possible for our patients.

“Birth injury payments made during any given period often relate to historical cases. The Trust will always co-operate in providing information when claims are brought. An external review of the case takes place, and where a breach of duty is determined, claimants will receive payments which, in the case of a birth injury, will cover ongoing care costs.

“Any maternal death is subject to an external investigation, and the findings are shared with the family and external bodies, including the CQC.

"Action plans are drawn up to address any recommendations made.”

The first hearing of the inquiry is set for Monday, February 5, with results due to be published in April.