A report on the investigation of maternity care issues and infant fatalities at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust is set to be released today.
The most extensive review of maternity services in the NHS history, led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, was initiated after Sarah and Jack Hawkins raised concerns following the stillbirth of their daughter Harriet at Nottingham City Hospital in April 2016.
Despite an internal hospital review attributing no clear fault, the couple, both employed by the trust, demanded an external inquiry. The subsequent review in 2019 uncovered numerous deficiencies within the trust and determined that Harriet’s death was highly likely preventable.
Following this, over 2,500 families and 800 staff members have provided input to the review, with ongoing investigations by the General Medical Council (GMC) and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The report will be made public at 11:45 am.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has already paid substantial compensations and penalties, including a record £1.6 million fine in 2021 for three infant deaths.
In 2025, the trust faced another unprecedented penalty for “serious and systemic” failings that jeopardized the safety of three infants and their mothers.
The trust had previously been fined £800,000 in 2023 following the demise of Wynter Andrews in 2019, becoming the first trust to face multiple prosecutions by the Care Quality Commission.
District Judge Grace Leong highlighted the “avoidable” nature of the trust’s maternity unit failures, emphasizing that such incidents should never have occurred.
Today marks a challenging day for numerous affected families involved in the largest NHS maternity inquiry, detailing avoidable harm at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust from 2012 to 2025.
Over 2,500 families have shared their harrowing experiences as part of the review conducted by renowned midwife Donna Ockenden, whose prior inquiry in Shropshire set the foundation for this investigation.
Families are gathering to receive the findings from Ms. Ockenden at a central Nottingham location, scheduled for 11:45 am. The presentation is expected to last approximately one hour.
A comprehensive breakdown of the main findings and reactions from affected families will be provided.
The Government’s maternity adviser emphasized the necessity for “systematic change” in maternity care, citing the urgency for policy reforms to address the crisis effectively.
Labour MP Michelle Welsh highlighted the importance of addressing systemic issues to prevent further tragedies, stressing the need for bold policy changes rather than superficial adjustments.
She urged organizations involved to confront these challenges directly and emphasized the crucial role of funding and systemic overhauls in resolving the crisis.