A hospital’s maternity units were found to have mishandled deceased babies, with inspectors discovering eight bodies in advanced decay due to inadequate freezer space at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The lack of proper checks in the mortuary also raised concerns about potential mix-ups in releasing bodies to funeral services.

A recent report by top midwife Donna Ockenden revealed that 520 mothers and babies had experienced avoidable harm or death within the trust. Issues with the mortuary services were brought to light by the Hawkins family, who found their stillborn daughter’s body in such a deteriorated state that it required triple-bagging for her funeral.

Furthermore, the inspection uncovered cases where incorrect bodies were released to funeral directors and where a stillborn baby was left in a fridge instead of being transferred to the mortuary. Nottinghamshire Police recently arrested two individuals in connection with practices related to the trust’s mortuary service.

Chief executive Anthony May expressed regret over the situation, emphasizing the importance of treating the deceased with dignity and respect. Following revelations from a bereaved family, the trust initiated reviews and is collaborating with authorities to address the shortcomings. May assured that corrective actions are underway to ensure higher quality services and compliance with regulations.